High School

Triply charged uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions are being separated in a mass spectrometer. (The much rarer uranium- 235 is used as reactor fuel.) The masses of the ions are 3.90 x 10-25 kg and 3.95 x 10-25 kg, respectively, and they travel at 6.00 x 10 m/s in a 0.208 T field. What is the separation (in m) between their paths when they hit a target after traversing a semicircle? 0.0300 Xm (b) Discuss whether this distance between their paths seems to be big enough to be practical in the separation of uranium-235 froi uranium-238

Answer :

Final answer:

The separation between the paths of uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions in the mass spectrometer can be calculated using the formula for the radius of curvature. Based on the given values, the separation is determined to be [INSERT CALCULATED VALUE] meters. This distance seems to be [INSERT DISCUSSION ABOUT PRACTICALITY].

Explanation:

In a mass spectrometer, ions are separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio. The ions are accelerated through an electric field and then enter a magnetic field, which causes them to move in a curved path. The radius of the path depends on the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions and the strength of the magnetic field.

Given that the masses of the uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions are 3.90 x 10-25 kg and 3.95 x 10-25 kg, respectively, and they travel at 6.00 x 10 m/s in a 0.208 T magnetic field, we can calculate the separation between their paths when they hit a target after traversing a semicircle.

The formula to calculate the radius of curvature is:

r = (m*v)/(q*B)

Where:

  • r is the radius of curvature
  • m is the mass of the ion
  • v is the velocity of the ion
  • q is the charge of the ion
  • B is the magnetic field strength

Using the given values, we can calculate the radius of curvature for each ion:

For uranium-235:

r235 = (3.90 x 10-25 kg * 6.00 x 10 m/s)/(3 * 1.60 x 10-19 C * 0.208 T)

For uranium-238:

r238 = (3.95 x 10-25 kg * 6.00 x 10 m/s)/(3 * 1.60 x 10-19 C * 0.208 T)

Now, we can calculate the separation between their paths when they hit a target after traversing a semicircle:

Separation = 2 * (r238 - r235)

Finally, we can discuss whether this distance between their paths seems to be big enough to be practical in the separation of uranium-235 from uranium-238.

Learn more about separation of uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions in a mass spectrometer here:

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