Final answer:
A mass spectrometer uses a magnetic field to separate uranium isotopes by their mass, considering their different charge-to-mass ratios that result in varying path radii in the field.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a commercial mass spectrometer, a magnetic field is used to separate uranium ions by their mass. Specifically, the triply charged isotopes of uranium-235 and uranium-238, with masses of 3.90 × 10-25 kg and 3.95 × 10-25 kg respectively, are being separated. They travel at a speed of 3.00 × 105 m/s within a 0.250-T magnetic field. The separation of their paths upon hitting a target after traversing a semicircle can be calculated by using the physics principles governing the motion of charged particles in a magnetic field.
The operational principle of a mass spectrometer is to use both electric and magnetic fields in a velocity selector to ensure that ions with different charge-to-mass ratios will have different radii of curvature in the magnetic field, leading to spatial separation when the ions strike a detector or a target.
For discussing the practicality of separating uranium isotopes, one must consider the measurable separation between their paths. If the separation is sufficient, then the spectrometer can be effectively used in practical applications, such as enriching uranium for reactor fuel.