Department of Energy Science and Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
ESL 100: Energy Resources and Utilization (First Semester, 2024-2025)
Tutorial Sheet-B1
Note: In case any vital information appears to be missing in any question, please make a sensible
assumption for the same based on the values available in relevant literature. The questions are
rather simple and straight forward as the primary aim of the tutorial sheet is to provide initial
exposure to some of the concepts and calculations relevant for energy sector. Please let us know
of any typos as well as of any other oversight in preparing the tutorial sheet.
Section A: Fundamental problems
1. Express the Ideal Gas Law (PV=nmRT) in terms of number density (n) and Boltzmann constant (kB)
where, nm represents the number of moles of gas contained in volume, V. P and T being gas pressure
and absolute temperature respectively.
2. Calculate the:
a. atomic density of sodium, when density of sodium is given as 0.97 gm/cm3 and atomic weight
is 22.99.
b. atomic densities of Na and Cl if the density of NaCl crystal is 2.17 gm/cm3.
3. A certain nuclear reactor is fuelled with 1500 kg of Uranium rods enrich to 20% 235U. The remainder is
238
U. The density of Uranium is 19.1 gm/cm3. What are the atomic densities of 235U and 238U in the rods
[Atomic weight of 235U = 235.0439 u and for 238U = 238.0508 u].
4. Estimate the rest mass energy of the following particles: (a) electron (b) proton.
5. What is the energy released in complete annihilation of 1 gm of matter?
6. Calculate the binding energy of uranium-235 ( U), if its atomic mass is 235.043943 a.m.u or
235.043943 u.
7. Estimate the thermal energy (in eV) of a particle at room temperature (T = 300 K)?
8. Estimate the typical order of energies of a beam of (a) neutrons (b) electrons that can be used to probe a
target of thickness 2 Angstrom?
9. It is understood that the binding energy (B) of a nucleus is the energy required to separate it into its
constituent neutrons and protons. This, if the nuclear mass of atomic mass, A, and atomic number, Z, is
given as m(A, Z), then one can write:
m(A, Z)= ZmH+ Nmn – B/c2
where, mH and mn are the atomic masses of hydrogen atom and neutrons respectively and B, expressed
in energy units, is given by the Semi-Emperical Mass Formula (SEMF). Use this relation to:
a. Calculate (relative) nuclear masses to determine which A=46 nuclei are stable. Use =2 MeV and
other SEMF coefficients are volume coefficient (av) = 15.56 MeV; surface coefficient (as) = 17.23
MeV; Coulomb coefficient (ac) = 0.7 MeV and symmetry coefficient (aa) = 23.28 MeV.
b. Obtain an expression for the Z-value of the isobar which will have the lowest as for a given value
of A. Hence determine which nuclide with A=101 is predicted to be the most stable.
10. Calculate the Q-value for the -decay of 234U. Compare this with the Q-values for 234U to decay by
emitting a deuteron, triton or 3He particle.
11. 226Ra alpha decays into 222Rn. Knowing that their atomic masses are respectively: 226RaM=226.02541
amu, M=4.0026 amu and 222RnM=222.01758, estimate the Q-value of the -decay process. Comment
on the Q- values, if you consider integer values of masses or masses correct upto the first decimal digit.
12. An initial number NA(0) of nuclei A decay into daughter nuclei B, which are also radioactive. The
respective decay probabilities are A and B respectively. If B = 2A the calculate the time (in terms of
A) when NB is at its maximum. Calculate NB(max) in terms of NA(0). Compare it with the scenario
when A = 4B.
13. Estimate the amount of nuclear fissile fuel (235U) required for the design of a nuclear power plant to
produce say thermal energy of 500 MW/day? It is stated that at any given time, the intermediate state
236
U accounts for 17% by weight of un-fissioned state.
14. A research reactor has a flux of 1 × 1013 neutrons/cm2-sec and a volume of 64000 cm3. If the macroscopic
cross-section in the reactor 1 cm-1, what is the power of the reactor? Assume 200 MeV/fission.
Page 1 of 1