The fusion reaction releases 3.27 MeV of energy. If a fusion reactor operates strictly on the basis of this reaction, (a) how much energy could it produce by completely reacting 1 kg of deuterium? (b) At eight cents a kilowatt-hour, how much would the produced energy be worth? (c) Heavy water (D2O) costs about $300 per kilogram. Neglecting the cost of separating the deuterium from the oxygen via electrolysis, how much does 1 kg of deuterium cost, if derived from D2O? (d) Would it be cost-effective to use deuterium as a source of energy? Discuss, assuming the cost of energy production is nine-tenths the value of energy produced.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
The fusion reaction releases 3.27 MeV of energy. If a fusion reactor operates strictly on the basis of this reaction, (a) how much energy could it produce by completely reacting 1 kg of deuterium? (b) At eight cents a kilowatt-hour, how much would the produced energy be worth? (c) Heavy water (D2O) costs about $300 per kilogram. Neglecting the cost of separating the deuterium from the oxygen via electrolysis, how much does 1 kg of deuterium cost, if derived from D2O? (d) Would it be cost-effective to use deuterium as a source of energy? Discuss, assuming the cost of energy production is nine-tenths the value of energy produced.
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