The Power: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Bindingcurve.gif|center|upright|frame|the curve of binding energy. to the left of iron/nickel, fusion is generally exothermic, with He, C, and O being particularly favorable. to the right, fission is generally exothermic, with ²³³U, ²³⁵U, and ²³⁹Pu being particularly dank candidates (but don't count out ²³⁷Np!). do you see a pattern in the fissile isotopes?]] | [[File:Bindingcurve.gif|center|upright|frame|the curve of binding energy. to the left of iron/nickel, fusion is generally exothermic, with He, C, and O being particularly favorable. to the right, fission is generally exothermic, with ²³³U, ²³⁵U, and ²³⁹Pu being particularly dank candidates (but don't count out ²³⁷Np!). do you see a pattern in the fissile isotopes?]] | ||
[[File:abundances.png|center|upright|frame|atomic abundances in the earth's upper crust]] | [[File:abundances.png|center|upright|frame|atomic abundances in the earth's upper crust. note logarithmic y-axis.]] | ||
remember e=mc^2. for now, we'll be working in terms of energies and masses. | remember e=mc^2. for now, we'll be working in terms of energies and masses. | ||