Question

Assertion (A): In the process of nuclear fission, the amount of nuclear energy generated by the fission of an atom of uranium is so tremendous that it produces 10 million times the energy produced by the combustion of an atom of carbon from coal.

Reason (R): The nucleus of a heavy atom such as uranium, when bombarded with low-energy neutrons, splits apart into lighter nuclei. The mass difference between the original nucleus and the product nuclei gets converted to tremendous energy.

• A. Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of the Assertion
• B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of the Assertion
• C. A is true but R is false
• D. A is false but R is true.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of the Assertion

Explanation for assertion:-

• Nuclear fission is a type of reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei.
• The amount of energy this process generates by the fission of uranium atoms is tremendous.
• It is almost 10 million times the energy produced by the combustion of an atom of carbon from coal.
• Thus the assertion is true.

Explanation for reason:-

• When the Uranium-235 atoms are bombarded with slow-moving neutrons this results in the breaking up of the heavy uranium nucleus to produce two medium-weight atoms, which are Barium-139 and Krypton-94, with the emission of 3 neutrons.
• These neutrons that are produced in a fission process cause the further fission of the heavy nuclei which leads to a self-sustaining chain reaction.
• When all the neutrons produced during the fission of the Uranium are allowed to cause further fission then there is a large amount of energy that is produced in a very short time that it is not possible to control it and this leads to an explosion called atom bomb.
• The energy that is generated by the fission of Uranium atom is equivalent to 10 Million times the energy produced by the combustion of an atom of Carbon from Coal.
• Thus the reason is also true and is the correct explanation for the assertion

Therefore, option (A) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of the Assertion is the correct answer.