Nuclear Fusion

Write one balanced reaction representing nuclear fusion.

 In a nuclear reaction

`"_2^3He + _2^3He -> _2^4He +_1^1H +_1^1H + 12.86 Me V` though the number of nucleons is conserved on both sides of the reaction, yet the energy is released. How? Explain.

Write notes on Nuclear fusion

During a nuclear fission reaction,

Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion. Show how in both these processes energy is released. Calculate the energy release in MeV in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction :

`""_1^2H+_1^3H->_2^4He+n`

Using the data :

m(`""_1^2H`) = 2.014102 u

m(`""_1^3H`) = 3.016049 u

m(`""_2^4He`) = 4.002603 u

m_n = 1.008665 u

1u = 931.5 MeV/c²

The curve of binding energy per nucleon as a function of atomic mass number has a sharp peak for helium nucleus. This implies that helium nucleus is ______.

Calculate the height of the potential barrier for a head on collision of two deuterons.

(Hint: The height of the potential barrier is given by the Coulomb repulsion between the two deuterons when they just touch each other. Assume that they can be taken as hard spheres of radius 2.0 fm.)

Show that the minimum energy needed to separate a proton from a nucleus with Zprotons and N neutrons is `ΔE = (M_(Z-1,N) + M_B - M_(Z,N))c^2` 

where M_Z,N = mass of an atom with Z protons and N neutrons in the nucleus and M_B = mass of a hydrogen atom. This energy is known as proton-separation energy.