List of top Physics Questions on Fusion and Fission

Assertion (A) : Energy is released when heavy nuclei undergo fission or light nuclei undergo fusion. Reason (R) : For heavy nuclei, binding energy per nucleon increases with increasing \(Z\) while for light nuclei, it decreases with increasing \(Z\).

Differentiate between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Give one example for each with nuclear reaction.

Assertion (A) : Energy is released when heavy nuclei undergo fission or light nuclei undergo fusion. Reason (R) : For heavy nuclei, binding energy per nucleon increases with increasing \(Z\) while for light nuclei, it decreases with increasing \(Z\).

Differentiate between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Give one example for each with nuclear reaction.

Consider the nuclear reaction \[ ^{238}\mathrm{U} \rightarrow ^{234}\mathrm{Th} + ^{4}\mathrm{He} \] Take masses of \(^{238}\mathrm{U}\), \(^{234}\mathrm{Th}\), and \(^{4}\mathrm{He}\) as \[ 238.050\,u,\qquad 234.043\,u,\qquad 4.003\,u \] respectively. The \(Q\)-value for the reaction, in keV, is: \[ 1u = 931.5\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^2 \]

In the following nuclear reaction, \(^1_0\text{n} + ^{235}_{92}\text{U} \rightarrow ^{140}_{54}\text{Xe} + ^b_a\text{Sr} + 2(^1_0\text{n})\) we have

A certain mass of Hydrogen is changed to Helium by the process of fusion. The mass defect in fusion reaction is 0.02866 u. The energy liberated per u is (given 1 u=931 MeV)