Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the Sun. Fusion occurs when two low-mass atomic nuclei fuse together to make a larger nucleus, in the process releasing substantial energy. This is hard to achieve because atomic nuclei carry positive electric charge, and their electrical repulsion makes it difficult to get them close enough for the short-range nuclear force to bind them into a single nucleus. Figure 7.25 shows the potential-energy curve for fusion of two deuterons (heavy hydrogen nuclei). The energy is measured in million electron volts (MeV), a unit commonly used in
FIGURE 7.25 Potential energy for two deuterons (Passage Problems 68-71)
The energy available in fusion is the energy difference between that of widely separated deuterons and the bound deutrons after they’ve “fallen” into the deep potential well shown in the figure. That energy is about
- a. 0.3 MeV.
- b. 1 MeV.
- c. 3.3 MeV.
- d. 3.6 MeV.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 7 Solutions
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
College Physics
Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals
Physics (5th Edition)
- The force acting on a particle varies as shown in Figure P6.14. Find the work done by the force on the particle as it moves (a) from x = 0 to x = 8.00 m, (b) from x = 8.00 m to x= 10.0 m, and (c) from x = 0 to x = 10.0 m.arrow_forwardA mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance?arrow_forwardWhat average power is generated by a 70.0-kg mountain climber who climbs a summit of height 325 m in 95.0 min? (a) 39.1 W (b) 54.6 W (c) 25.5 W (d) 67.0 W (e) 88.4 Warrow_forward
- Cite two examples in which a force is exerted on an object without doing any work on the object.arrow_forwardTwo students throw identical snowballs from the same height; both snowballs having the same initial speed vo ( Fig. 4.25). Which snowball has the greater speed on striking the level ground at the bottom of the slope? Justify your answer using energy considerations. Figure 4.25 Away They Go! See Short Answer Question 16.arrow_forwardPhysics Review A team of huskies performs 7 440 J of work on a loaded sled of mass 124 kg, drawing it from rest up a 4.60-m high snow-covered rise while the sled loses 1 520 J due to friction, (a) What is the net work done on the sled by the huskies and friction? (b) What is the change in the sleds potential energy? (c) What is the speed of the sled at the top of the rise? (See Section 5.5.)arrow_forward
- Does the work you do on a book when you lift it onto a shelf depend on the path taken? On the time taken? On the height of the shelf? On the mass of the book?arrow_forwardA cyclist in a race must climb a 5 hill at a speed of 8 m/s. If the mass of the bike and the biker together is 80 kg, what must be the power output of the biker to achieve the goal?arrow_forwardA boy starts at rest and slides down a frictionless slide as in Figure P5.64. The bottom of the track is a height h above the ground. The boy then leaves the track horizontally, striking the ground a distance d as shown. Using energy methods, determine the initial height H of the boy in terms of h and d. Figure P5.64arrow_forward
- In a Coyote/Road Runner cartoon clip (https://openstaxcollege.org/l/21coyroadcarcl), a spring expands quickly and sends the coyote into a rock. If the spring extended 5 m and sent the coyote of mass 20 kg to a speed of 15 m/s, (a) what is the spring constant of this spring? (b) If the coyote were sent vertically into the air with the energy given to him by the spring, how high could he go if there were no non-conservative forces?arrow_forwardA sled of mass 70 kg starts from rest and slides down a 10 incline 80 m long. It then travels for 20 m horizontally before starting back up an 8° incline. It travels 80 m along this incline before coming to rest. What is the magnitude of the net work done on the sled by friction?arrow_forwardGive an example of a situation in which there is a force and a displacement, but the force does no work. Explain why it does no work.arrow_forward
- Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningUniversity Physics Volume 1PhysicsISBN:9781938168277Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff SannyPublisher:OpenStax - Rice UniversityCollege PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781285737027Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage Learning
- An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage LearningGlencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-HillPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage Learning