Consider the fusion of two helium-3 nuclei given by ^3_2 He + ^3_2 He ^4_2 He + 2…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

Consider the fusion of two helium-3 nuclei given by 23He+23He→24He+2 11H^3_2\text{He} + ^3_2\text{He} \rightarrow ^4_2\text{He} + 2\,^1_1\text H Atomic masses are: 23He=3.016029 u^3_2\text{He} = 3.016029\,\text u, 24He=4.002603 u^4_2\text{He} = 4.002603\,\text u, 11H=1.007825 u^1_1\text H = 1.007825\,\text u. Use 1 u=931.5 MeV/c21\,\text u = 931.5\,\text{MeV}/c^2. (i) Calculate the Q-value of the reaction in MeV. (ii) Compute the average energy released per nucleon of the reactants. (iii) Using your result from part (ii), explain briefly why fusion of light nuclei is an energetically favourable process when compared to fission of very heavy nuclei.

Related theory

Browse the problem library