The fusion reaction is proposed as a possible energy source

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

Problem

The fusion reaction 6 ⁣Li+1 ⁣H→4 ⁣He+3 ⁣He^{6}\!\mathrm{Li} + {}^{1}\!\mathrm{H} \rightarrow {}^{4}\!\mathrm{He} + {}^{3}\!\mathrm{He} is proposed as a possible energy source. The binding energy per nucleon values are: Ebn(6 ⁣Li)=5.3 MeVE_{bn}(^{6}\!\mathrm{Li}) = 5.3\,\text{MeV} Ebn(1 ⁣H)=0 MeVE_{bn}(^{1}\!\mathrm{H}) = 0\,\text{MeV} Ebn(4 ⁣He)=7.1 MeVE_{bn}(^{4}\!\mathrm{He}) = 7.1\,\text{MeV} Ebn(3 ⁣He)=2.6 MeVE_{bn}(^{3}\!\mathrm{He}) = 2.6\,\text{MeV} (i) Calculate the total binding energy of the reactants and of the products. (ii) Determine the energy released per fusion event. (iii) Comment on the feasibility of using this reaction for controlled fusion power generation, based solely on the calculated energy release and the relative nuclear stabilities.

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