Answer :
Final answer:
To calculate the total positive charge in 3.9 kg of plutonium, determine the number of plutonium atoms using the atomic mass and Avogadro's number, then multiply by the charge of 94 protons per atom and adjust for the 3.9 kg mass.
Explanation:
The question is asking for the total positive charge in coulombs contained within 3.9 kg of plutonium, assuming that each plutonium atom has 94 protons. Firstly, we need to determine the number of plutonium atoms in 3.9 kg.
Using the atomic mass of plutonium (244) and Avogadro's number (6.022 \u00d7 1023 atoms/mol), we can find the number of moles and then the total number of atoms in the given mass:
Number of moles = Mass (kg) / Atomic mass (g/mol)
Number of atoms = Number of moles \u00d7 Avogadro's number
Each plutonium atom contributes 94 protons, which are equivalent to a positive charge, as one proton carries a charge of approximately 1.602 x 10-19 coulombs.
Therefore, total charge (Q) can be calculated as:
Total charge (Q) = Number of atoms \u00d7 Charge per proton (C)
Finally, since the question involves 3.9 kg (and not 4.0 kg, as in the reference material), we need to multiply the result by (3.9 kg / 4.0 kg) to get the correct charge for 3.9 kg of plutonium.
