When 235U captures a neutron, it fissions (splits) into two nuclei, in the process emitting several neutrons that can cause other uranium nuclei to fission. Assume that the fission products are two nuclei of equal charges of +46e and that these nuclei are at rest just after fission and are separated by twice their radius, 2R ≈ 1.3 × 10–14 m.

(a) Calculate the electrostatic potential energy of the fission fragments. This is approximately the energy released per fission.

(b) About how many fissions per second are needed to produce 1 MW of power in a reactor?