Calculate the Q-value

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

Calculate the Q-value, in MeV (rounded to one decimal place), for the reaction

_1^2\text{H}+{}_1^3\text{H}\;\rightarrow\;{}_2^4\text{He}+{}_0^1\text{n}

using the atomic masses:

_1^2\text{H}=2.014102\,\text{u},\quad {}_1^3\text{H}=3.016049\,\text{u},

_2^4\text{He}=4.002603\,\text{u},\quad {}_0^1\text{n}=1.008665\,\text{u}.

(Use

1\,\text{u}=931.5\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}

.) (a) 8.8 MeV (b) 17.6 MeV (c) 18.6 MeV (d) 16.8 MeV