Answer: 17.6 MeV.
- A 3.2 MeV
- B 200 MeV
- C 11.9 MeV
- D 17.6 MeV
Correct answer: D. 17.6 MeV
Explanation: The deuterium-tritium fusion reaction releases about 17.6 MeV, carried mostly by the emitted neutron.
Binding energy per nucleon rises sharply for light nuclei, peaks around iron-56 (the most stable nucleus), then slowly declines for heavier nuclei - which is exactly why fusing light nuclei or splitting heavy nuclei both release energy: each moves the products toward this stability peak.
Concept context
Radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, and binding energy.