The Galileo space probe was launched on its long journey past several planets in 1989

Chapter 31, Problem 64

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The Galileo space probe was launched on its long journey past several planets in 1989, with an ultimate goal of Jupiter. Its power source is 11.0 kg of 238 Pu , a by-product of nuclear weapons plutonium production. Electrical energy is generated thermoelectrically from the heat produced when the 5.59-MeV particles emitted in each decay crash to a halt inside the plutonium and its shielding. The half-life of 238 Pu is 87.7 years. (a) What was the original activity of the 238 Pu in becquerel? (b) What power was emitted in kilowatts? (c) What power was emitted 12.0 y after launch? You may neglect any extra energy from daughter nuclides and any losses from escaping rays.

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