Nuclear

reaction
Nuclear fusion
 Nuclear Fusion
• Nuclear fusion is the process in which nuclei of
light elements combine to form nuclei of heavier
elements.
• The energy released in this reaction is called
thermonuclear energy.
• Examples ; H H H H Q
2 2 3 1
1 1 1 1
H  H  He 0 n  Q
2
1
2
1 2
3 1

2
1H  H  He 0 n  Q
3
1
4
2
1

• The amount of energy released by this process

can be estimated by using the binding energy per
nucleon curve (Figure Y).
 Binding energy per nucleon as a function of mass number,A

Greatest stability
nucleon (MeV/nucleon)
Binding energy per

Moving toward more stable nuclei

fusion
Figure Y
Mass number A
Two nuclei of very low mass can combine to generate energy. This
process is called nuclear fusion.
 FUSION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb8NX3HiS4U
• From Figure Y, the binding energy per nucleon for
the lighter nuclei (2H) is small compared to the
heavier nuclei.
• The energy released per nucleon
in the fusion process is given by the difference
between two values of binding energy per nucleon.
• And it is found that the energy released per nucleon
by this process is greater than the energy released
per nucleon by fission process.
Example
Example
A fusion reaction occur as follows :
2
1 H 12H  24He

If 2 kg 2H is used, determine
a)Total mass loss after fusion
b)Energy released per helium nucleus obtained.
c) Total energy produced.

Given : mass of 21H = 2.014102 u,

mass of 42 He = 4.002603 u
 Solution
a) Δm = mbefore –mafter
Δm = 2(2.014102)-4.002603
Δm = 0.025601 u
The mass loss after fusion for 2 2H nuclei is 0.025016 u.
Number of nucleus for 2 kg 2H is,
2000
x6.02x10 23  6.02x10 26 atoms
2

2 atoms  0.025601 u
6.02 x 10 26
Total mass loss 6.02 x 10 atoms 
26
x 0.025601 u
2
after fusion  7.705901 x10 24 u
 0.013 kg
Solution
b) Energy released per helium nucleus obtained,

 931.5MeV 
Q  m 
 u 
 931.5MeV 
Q  0.026 u 
 u 
Q  24.219 MeV Q = 3.88 x10-12 J

c) Total energy produced,

Q= Δmc2 =(0.013)(3x108)2 =1.17x1015 J
• For two nuclei to undergo fusion, they must come
together to within the range of the nuclear force,
typically of the order of 2 x 10-15 m.
• To do this, they must overcome the electrical
repulsion of their positive charges.
• For two protons at this distance, the corresponding
potential energy is about 1.2 x 10-13 J or 0.7 MeV;
this represents the total initial kinetic energy that
the fusion nuclei must have, for example, 0.6 x 10-13J
each in head-on collision.
• Atoms have this much energy only at extremely
high temperature (108 K).
• The lower border of the fusion temperature is 10 7 K.
• Reactions that required such extremely high
temperature are called thermonuclear reactions.
• The most important thermonuclear reactions
occurs in stars, such as our own sun.
 Nuclear Fusion in the Sun
• Nuclear fusion occurs in the interior of the sun
because the temperature of the sun is very high
(approximately 1.5 x 107K).
• The energy radiated by the sun comes from deep
within its core, where the temperature is high
enough to initiate the fusion process.
• One group of reactions thought to occur in the sun is
the proton-proton cycle, which is a series of
reactions whereby 6 protons form one helium
nucleus, 2 positrons, 2 gamma-rays, 2 protons
and 2 neutrinos.
• The sequence of fusion reactions are shown below ;
neutrino
i) 1
1 H 11H 12H  10e  v  Q
Positron (beta plus)
ii) H  H  He    Q
1 2 3
1 1 2
Gamma-ray
iii)
3
He
2  3
2 He  4
2 He  1
1 H  1H  Q
1

• The net result is the combination of 4 protons

to form a helium nucleus, two positrons and
two neutrinos. (consumes 6 protons but gives two
back)
 
4 11H  24He  210 e  2v  2  Q
• The energy released by the proton-proton cycle is
about 26.7 MeV.
Comparison between nuclear Fission and
nuclear Fusion

Differences
Fission Fusion

Heavy to light nucleus Light to heavy nucleus

Neutron to bombard High temperature

Produce more than 1 Produce 1 nucleus

nucleus
Easy to handle & Difficult to handle &
control control
Similarities
• new product is produced.
• energy is released.
• mass is reduced after reaction.