(a) triply charged uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions are being separated in a mass spectrometer. (the much rarer uranium-235 is used as reactor fuel.) the masses of the ions are 3.90x10—25 kg and 3.95x10—25 kg , respectively, and they travel at 3.00x105 m/s in a 0.250-t field. what is the separation between their paths when they hit a target after traversing a semicircle? (b) discuss whether this distance between their paths seems to be big enough to be practical in the separation of uranium-235 from uranium-238.

(a) 2.5 cm

(b) Yes

Solution:

As per the question:

Mass of Uranium-235 ion, m =

Mass of Uranium- 238, m' =

Velocity, v =

Magnetic field, B = 0.250 T

q = 3e

Now,

To calculate the path separation while traversing a semi-circle:

The radius of the ion in a magnetic field is given by:

R =

Now,

By putting suitable values in the above eqn:

(b) Since the order of the distance is in cm, thus clearly this distance is sufficiently large enough in practical for the separation of the two uranium isotopes.

the working equation for the angular size is the product of the physical size and 360 degrees divided by the product of two pi and distance from earth. the minimum size would be 0.559 degrees while the maximum size would be 0.49 degrees.