Nuclear Calculations
Name:____________________
Date:___________
Directions: Use pencil only. Show all of your work. Round your answers down to two
decimals. Use complete sentences on written answers. Write legibly and use structure in your
work. Use standard SI units in your calculations.
Rescaling a hydrogen atom.
BB diameter = 4.5 mm
BB radius=_________
Calculate the volume of the BB:
VolumeBB=__________
Calculate the volume of a proton. ( radius = 8E-16 m)
Volume p+ =_________
Calculate the density of a proton. (1.67E-27 kg)
Density (ρ) =_________
If your BB had the same density as a proton, how much would it weigh? (in tons)
1 kg = 2.2 lb
2000lb = 1 ton
WeightBB =________
If the proton in the nucleus of a H atom was the same radius as a BB, on average, how far
away would the electron be? (in feet) (Hint: Use the proportionality equation from geometry.)
Bohr radius = 5.29E-11 meters
1 meter = 3.28 feet
Proton radius = 8E-16 meters.
Distance = _________
Your BB is mostly Cu (ρ = 8960 kg/m3), find the mass of your BB:
Mass = _________
Einstein’s famous equation ___________ says that mass is energy is mass is energy is…..
If your BB were converted from mass to pure energy, what would the energy equivalence, in
joules, of your BB be? c = 3E8 m/s
Energy=__________
How many tanks of gasoline would that be equal to?
1 tank = 20 gallons
131E6 J/gallon
Number of Tanks:_________
Nuclear weapon shots are measured in ktons of TNT. How many tons of TNT are contained
in your BB if it was converted to pure energy?
1 ton of TNT = 4.18E9 Joules
Tons of TNT = _________
If your BB were made of pure U-235 (ρ = 18,950 kg/m3), how many atoms would be in it?
Number of atoms=_________
If each atom in your BB were to undergo a fission reaction, how many gallons of gas would it be
equal to? How many tons of TNT?
1 fission = 3.2E-11 joules
Gallons of gas = __________
Tons of TNT = _________