Answer the following for the two fusion reactions:

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Nuclei · Nuclei

Problem

Answer the following for the two fusion reactions: (I)

^{2}\!\text{H}+{}^{2}\!\text{H} \rightarrow {}^{3}\!\text{He}+n+Q_1

(II)

^{2}\!\text{H}+{}^{3}\!\text{H} \rightarrow {}^{4}\!\text{He}+n+Q_2

Given binding energies:

E_B(^{2}\!\text{H}) = 2.2\,\text{MeV},\; E_B(^{3}\!\text{He}) = 7.7\,\text{MeV},\; E_B(^{4}\!\text{He}) = 28.3\,\text{MeV}

. (a) Calculate the Q-value

Q_1

for reaction (I). (b) Determine the energy released per nucleon for reaction (I). (c) Using

Q_2 = 17.6\,\text{MeV}

for reaction (II), compare the per-nucleon energy release of the two reactions and state which is more efficient.