Book edition 10th Edition

Author(s) David Halliday

Pages 1328 pages

ISBN 9781118230718

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Short Answer

Some uranium samples from the natural reactor site described in Module 43-3 were found to be slightly enriched in $^{235} U$ , rather than depleted. Account for this in terms of neutron absorption by the abundant isotope $^{238} U$ and the subsequent beta and alpha decay of its products.

The neutron absorption by the abundant isotope of $^{238} U$ is substantially increased resulting in a faster decay rate for the beta and alpha processes.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS :

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Step 1: Write the given data

Some uranium samples from the natural reactor site were described in Module 43-3.

Step 2: Determine the concept of enrichment of an isotope

An isotope of a radionuclide is defined as enriched or abundant relating to various factors that occur in their beta or alpha decay processes. The availability of higher neutrons causes the fission reaction of a radionuclide resulting in their decay and thus, it causes their decay rate to be faster than others. Thus, a nuclide with faster decay is depleted by neutrons while a lower decay rate describes enrichment in the nuclide's nuclei number.

Step 3: Calculate the neutron absorption by the uranium-238 isotope

The nuclei of $^{238} U$ can capture neutrons and beta-decay. With a large amount of neutrons available due to the fission of $^{235} U$ , the probability for this process is substantially increased, resulting in a much higher decay rate for $^{238} U$ and causing the depletion of $^{238} U$ (and relative enrichment of $^{235} U$ ).

Hence, the neutron absorption by the abundant isotope of $^{238} U$ is substantially increased resulting in a faster decay rate for the beta and alpha processes.

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Fundamentals Of Physics

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Short Answer

Some uranium samples from the natural reactor site described in Module 43-3 were found to be slightly enriched in $^{235} U$ , rather than depleted. Account for this in terms of neutron absorption by the abundant isotope $^{238} U$ and the subsequent beta and alpha decay of its products.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: Write the given data

Step 2: Determine the concept of enrichment of an isotope

Step 3: Calculate the neutron absorption by the uranium-238 isotope

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Fundamentals Of Physics

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Short Answer

Some uranium samples from the natural reactor site described in Module 43-3 were found to be slightly enriched in 235U, rather than depleted. Account for this in terms of neutron absorption by the abundant isotope 238Uand the subsequent beta and alpha decay of its products.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: Write the given data

Step 2: Determine the concept of enrichment of an isotope

Step 3: Calculate the neutron absorption by the uranium-238 isotope

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Some uranium samples from the natural reactor site described in Module 43-3 were found to be slightly enriched in $^{235} U$ , rather than depleted. Account for this in terms of neutron absorption by the abundant isotope $^{238} U$ and the subsequent beta and alpha decay of its products.