Physics · Nuclei & Radioactivity · Calorimetry & Change of State
Problem
A nuclear reactor starts producing a radioactive nuclide X from t = 0, at a constant rate of α per second. Each decay of X produces energy E₀, which is utilized to heat a liquid of mass m and specific heat s. Assuming no heat loss from the liquid and taking λ as the decay constant of X, the rate of increase in the temperature of the liquid is: