1.1 Determine the energy released per mass-of-atoms initially involved for a chemical process, Eq.(1.2), for nuclear fission, Eq.(1.3), for nuclear fusion, Eq.(1.5) and for a water molecule falling through a 100 m elevation difference in a hydroelectric plant.

1.2 Calculate the reaction Q-values for each of the two branches of the d-d fusion reaction, Eq.(1.21).

1.3 What fraction of the original mass in d-t fusion is actually converted into energy? Compare this to the case of nuclear fission, Eq.(1.3).

1.4 Calculate the kinetic energies of the reaction products h and a resulting from p-6Li fusion, Eq.( 1.24a), ignoring any initial motion of the reactants.

1.5 Calculate the total fusion energy, in Joules, residing in a litre of water if all the deuterons were to fuse according to Eq.(1.21).

1.6 Redo problem 1.5 including the burning of the bred tritium according to Eq. (1.20).

1.7 Consult an astronomy text in order to estimate the mean fusion power density (Wm‘3) in the sun; compare this to a typical power density in a fission reactor.

1.8 The first artificial nuclear transmutation without the use of radioactive substances was successfully carried out in the Rutherford Laboratory by Cockcroft and Walton when they bombarded Lithium (at rest) with 100 keV proton canal rays (protons accelerated by a voltage of 100 kV and passing through a hole in the cathode). By scintillations in a Zincblende-screen, the appearance of a-particles with a kinetic energy of 8.6 keV was determined.

(a) Formulate the law of energy conservation valid for the above experiment referring to the nuclear reaction

]Li+H -» 2 "He

and find therefrom the reaction energy, Qp7u, via the involved rest masses (mp, m«= 6.64455 x 10’27 kg, m7Li = 11.64743 x 10’27 kg).

(b) In the Cockcroft-Walton experiment, conservation of momentum was proven by cloud chamber imaging whereby it was observed that the tracks of the two a-particles diverge at an angle of 175°. What angle follows from the law of momentum conservation by calculation?

(c) A further reaction induced by the protons in natural lithium is

з U+H-*lHe+ He

Provide an argument that shows the a-particles detected in the Cockcroft-Walton experiment cannot stem from this reaction.