Coal releases about 3.0×107Jkg−1 when burnt, whereas the fission of 235U releases approximately 200MeV per nucleus.
(i) Derive an expression for the ratio mUmcoal of the masses of coal and 235U that would yield the same total energy output, starting from the given microscopic and macroscopic data.
(ii) Using 1eV=1.602×10−19J and Avogadro number 6.022×1023mol−1, calculate numerically the mass of coal required to produce the same energy as 1.0kg of 235U fissioned completely.
(iii) Comment on two logistic or environmental advantages that the result in part (ii) confers on nuclear power stations over conventional coal-based stations.