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Question
Use this graph to explain the release of energy in both the processes of nuclear fusion and fission.
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Solution
Nuclear fission: A very heavy nucleus (say A = 240) has lower binding energy per nucleon as compared to the nucleus with A = 120. Thus if the heavier nucleus breaks to the lighter nucleus with high binding energy per nucleon, nucleons are tightly bound. This implies that energy will be released in the process which justifies the energy release in fission reaction.
Nuclear fusion: When two light nuclei (A<10) are combined to form a heavier nuclei, the binding energy of the fused heavier nuclei is more than the binding energy per nucleon of the lighter nuclei. Thus the final system is more tightly bound than the initial system. Again the energy will be released in fusion reaction.
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