Log In Start studying!

Select your language

Suggested languages for you:
Answers without the blur. Sign up and see all textbooks for free! Illustration

Q20Q

Expert-verified
Matter & Interactions
Found in: Page 165

Answers without the blur.

Just sign up for free and you're in.

Illustration

Short Answer

Uranium-238 ( U238) has three more neutrons than uranium-235 ( U235). Compared to the speed of sound in a bar of U235, is the speed of sound in a bar of U238 higher, lower, or the same? Explain your choice, including justification for assumptions you make.

Speed of sound in U238 is lower than speed of sound in U235 because speed of sound is inversely proportional to the root of atomic mass.

See the step by step solution

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: Given data

Bars of U235 and U238.

It is given that the uranium U238 has three more neutrons as compared to uranium U235.

Step 2: Speed of sound in solid

Speed of sound in a solid of stiffness constant k, atomic mass m and interatomic bond length d is given by,

v=kmd ....i

Step 3: Comparing speed of sound in U238 to that in U235

U238 has three more neutrons in its nucleus than U235 . Thus the atomic mass of U238 is greater than that of U235. Their stiffness constant and interatomic distance are the same. From equation (i), it is seen that the speed of sound in a solid is inversely proportional to the root of its atomic mass. Thus a solid with greater atomic mass will have lower speed of sound in it. Hence speed of sound in U238 is lower than that of U235

Most popular questions for Physics Textbooks

Icon

Want to see more solutions like these?

Sign up for free to discover our expert answers
Get Started - It’s free

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

94% of StudySmarter users get better grades.

Sign up for free
94% of StudySmarter users get better grades.