Simulation: Fission Q-Value and Mass-Defect Accounting
Switch between benchmark fission channels and inspect reactant mass, product mass, mass defect, neutron yield, and resulting per-fission energy release.
In the textbook: 24.1 Fission Reactions and Energy Release, 24.2 Chain Reaction, Criticality, and Neutron Economy, 24.3 Reactor Core Components and Control, 24.4 Reactor Power, Fuel Use, and Efficiency, 24.5 Safety, Waste Storage, and Ethical Tradeoffs
This lab links nuclear mass-energy accounting to reactor operation, fuel burn-up, and long-horizon storage constraints.
n + U-235 -> U-236* -> Ba-144 + Kr-89 + 3n
Q-value
173.1 MeV
Energy per fission
2.77e-11 J
Ideal energy per kg fuel
7.11e+4 GJ
Neutron yield
3 n/fission