For the fusion reaction

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

Problem

^2\!\mathrm{H}+{}^3\!\mathrm{H}\;\rightarrow\;{}^4\!\mathrm{He}+n

, use the data below to answer the following: (i) Calculate the energy released per reaction in MeV, given the atomic masses:

m(^2\!\mathrm{H})=2.014102\,u

m(^3\!\mathrm{H})=3.016049\,u

m(^4\!\mathrm{He})=4.002603\,u

m(n)=1.008665\,u

and

1\,u = 931\,\text{MeV}/c^2

. (ii) Explain briefly how your numerical result is consistent with the trend shown by the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve.