In 1957 in Mayak, Russia \"..an explosion of a tank containing high-level wastes
ID: 493217 • Letter: I
Question
In 1957 in Mayak, Russia "..an explosion of a tank containing high-level wastes released 20 million curies of radioactive fission products into the atmosphere. About 2 million curies of this was deposited over an area 15,000 to 23,000km^2, necessitating on evacuation of more than 30 towns or villages." Presume that all the radioactive waste deposited over this area was Sr-90, a radioactive isotope. One Curie (Ci) equals 37 billion nuclear transformations per second. How many nuclear transformations resulted from the deposition of Sr-90? In order to receive full credit for your choice the correct calculations with correct units must be clearly shown. Otherwise zero credit will be earned.Explanation / Answer
radioactive Fission into atmosphere = 20 million Curie
1 curie = 37 billion nuclear transformations
Nuclear transformation into atmosphere = 20* 10^6 * 37 billion
= 740 * 10^6 billion nuclear transformations
Nuclear transformation from deposition of Sr-90 = 2* 10^6 * 37 billion
= 74 * 10^6 billion nuclear transformations