In a thermonuclear reaction used for energy production

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

Problem

In a thermonuclear reaction used for energy production, a deuterium nucleus fuses with a tritium nucleus. A helium-4 nucleus is produced, along with one additional particle and released energy. Measured atomic masses (in atomic mass units, u): • m(2H)=2.01410 um(^{2}\text H)=2.01410\,\text u • m(3H)=3.01605 um(^{3}\text H)=3.01605\,\text u • m(4He)=4.00260 um(^{4}\text{He})=4.00260\,\text u • m(n)=1.00866 um(\text{n})=1.00866\,\text u 1 u1\,\text u corresponds to 931 MeV/c2931\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}. (a) Identify the additional particle produced in the reaction and write the fully balanced nuclear equation. (b) Verify quantitatively that both nucleon number and charge are conserved in your balanced equation. (c) Calculate the energy released (the QQ-value) for one fusion event, using the masses provided. Express your answer in MeV.

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