Work required to disassemble a helium atom

In summary, to completely disassemble a helium atom, 4.03298u of mass is needed. This results in a change of mass of 0.030377u. Using the conversion factor 931.49 MeV/u, the required work can be calculated as 2.5466*10^18 MeV. However, this approach may not be accurate as the conversion factor is not a direct conversion between masses.
  • #1
tevatron1
11
0

Homework Statement



A helium atom has a rest mass of He = 4.002603u. When disassembled into its constituent particles (2 protons, 2 neutrons, 2 electrons), the well-separated individual particles have the following masses: p = 1.007276u, n= 1.008665u, e = 0.000549u.

How much work is required to completely disassemble a helium atom? (Note: 1 u of mass has a rest energy of 931.49 MeV.)

Homework Equations



E=mc^2

The Attempt at a Solution



2(1.007276u + 1.008665u + 0.000549u) = 4.03298u

4.03298u - 4.002603u = .030377u

E = (0.030377u)*(931.49 MeV/u)*(3.0*10^8)^2

E = 2.5466*10^18 MeV

*I tried using c = 2.9979*10^8, however it is still wrong.
 
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  • #2
Did you notice that the units of (0.030377u)*(931.49 MeV/u)*(3.0*10^8)^2 are m4/s4?

The conversion 931.49 MeV/u is not a conversion between one mass and another mass, so multiplying by this and then using E=mc2 afterwards is pretty suspect
 
  • #3
Office_Shredder said:
Did you notice that the units of (0.030377u)*(931.49 MeV/u)*(3.0*10^8)^2 are m4/s4?

The conversion 931.49 MeV/u is not a conversion between one mass and another mass, so multiplying by this and then using E=mc2 afterwards is pretty suspect

I had considered this. I'm honestly not sure where else to use the conversion. Can you give a hint? Am I correct to solve for the change in mass?
 

Related to Work required to disassemble a helium atom

What is the work required to disassemble a helium atom?

The work required to disassemble a helium atom is the amount of energy needed to break apart the nucleus and remove the electrons from the atom.

How is the work required to disassemble a helium atom calculated?

The work required to disassemble a helium atom can be calculated using the equation W = Efinal - Einitial, where W is the work, Efinal is the energy of the separated particles, and Einitial is the energy of the helium atom.

What is the unit of measurement for the work required to disassemble a helium atom?

The unit of measurement for the work required to disassemble a helium atom is joules (J).

What factors affect the amount of work required to disassemble a helium atom?

The amount of work required to disassemble a helium atom can be affected by factors such as the nuclear binding energy, the strength of the forces holding the nucleus together, and the distance between the particles.

What is the significance of knowing the work required to disassemble a helium atom?

Knowing the work required to disassemble a helium atom can help scientists understand the stability and structure of atoms, as well as the fundamental principles of nuclear and atomic physics.

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