The New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, spent 9.5 years on its journey to Pluto. It derives its electric power from the heat generated by 10 kg of 238Pu, which has an activity of 6.3 × 1015 Bq. Each decay emits an alpha particle with an energy of 5.6 MeV. What is the total thermal power generated by this plutonium source?
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
The New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, spent 9.5 years on its journey to Pluto. It derives its electric power from the heat generated by 10 kg of 238Pu, which has an activity of 6.3 × 1015 Bq. Each decay emits an alpha particle with an energy of 5.6 MeV. What is the total thermal power generated by this plutonium source?
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