The liquid-drop model of the atomic nucleus suggests that high-energy oscillations of certain nuclei can split the nucleus into two unequal fragments plus a few neutrons. The fission products acquire kinetic energy from their mutual Coulomb repulsion. Calculate the electric potential energy (in electron volts) of two spherical fragments from a uranium nucleus having the following charges and radii: 38e and 5.50 x 10-15 m; 54e and 6.20 x 10-15 m. Assume that the charge is distributed uniformly throughout the volume of each spherical fragment and that just before separating they are at rest with their surfaces in contact. The electrons surrounding the nucleus can be ignored. |
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