Calculations in the Liquid-Drop Model of Fission

Abstract

The liquid-drop model of fission as developed by Bohr and Wheeler and others has been studied with the use of an electronic calculator, the Eniac. Classical deformation energies have been calculated for many shapes not all near-spherical. The shapes considered were axially and primarily, but not exclusively, bilaterally symmetric, and single-valued in polar representation. Previous calculations are confirmed and extended. Agreement with observed fission thresholds and spontaneous fission rates is obtained. No explanation of asymmetric fission is found.