Uranium-238 Decays into Thorium-234 Plus an Alpha Particle How Much Energy Is Released in This Process

question 15

Multiple Choice

Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. The known masses are
$$\begin{array} { l l } { } _ { 2 } ^ { 4 } \mathrm { He } : & 4.002603 \mathrm { u } \\{ } _ { 90 } ^ { 224 } \mathrm { Th } : & 234.043583 \mathrm { u } \\{ } _ { 92 } ^ { 238 } \mathrm { U } : & 238.050786 \mathrm { u }\end{array}$$
How much energy is released in this process? $\left( 1 \mathrm { u } = 931.5 \mathrm { MeV } / c ^ { 2 } \right)$

• A) \(3.18 \mathrm { MeV }\)
• B) \(4.28 \mathrm { MeV }\)
• C) \(5.05 \mathrm { MeV }\)
• D) \(3.76 \mathrm { MeV }\)
• E) \(2.89 \mathrm { MeV }\)

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