Topic questions Atomic structure Nuclear fusion
10 questions · 65 marks · about 1.5 hours
The graph shows how binding energy per nucleon varies with nucleon number for atomic nuclei. The arrows w, x, y and z represent changes in binding energy per nucleon and nucleon number.
Fission and fusion of nuclei may result in the release of energy.
Which row of the table gives the arrows representing energy release by fission
A fusion research centre was opened in Rotherham in 2021. The centre has a device which tests materials in the extreme conditions found inside a fusion reactor.
Describe the extreme conditions inside a fusion reactor.
The graph shows how the binding energy per nucleon varies with nucleon number for a range of nuclides.
Explain why the fusion of nuclei can produce large amounts of energy. Your answer should refer to information from the graph.
*13 The energy radiated by stars is released by nuclear fusion.
Explain the conditions required to bring about and maintain nuclear fusion in stars.
A Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram shows how the luminosity L depends on the surface temperature T for a group of stars.
The HR diagram below is for a young star cluster.
Explain how we can tell that the young star cluster is in the early stages of its evolution.
Explain why the most massive stars in the cluster have the greatest luminosities.
The HR diagram on the previous page shows an approximately linear relationship for stars in this cluster.
It is suggested that the relationship between luminosity L and surface temperature T is of the form
where k and n are constants.
Explain why a graph of log L against log T would give a straight line.
The table shows data for stars in this cluster.
Plot a graph of log L against log T on the grid opposite. Use the columns provided to show any processed data.
Determine a value for n.
The diagram shows binding energy per nucleon against nucleon number for atomic nuclei.
Which line of the table correctly identifies the process that would increase stability for nuclei in the positions indicated by X and Y?
The diagram shows binding energy per nucleon against nucleon number for atomic nuclei.
Which line of the table correctly identifies the process that would increase stability for nuclei in the positions indicated by X and Y?
At the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) experiments are carried out to investigate nuclear fusion and the properties of plasmas. A plasma consists of ionised gas, containing positive ions and electrons.
In a fusion experiment at CCFE, ions of two isotopes of hydrogen fuse to produce helium ions and fast-moving neutrons.
Show that a single fusion reaction releases about 3 
10−12J of energy.
mass of12H = 2.013553 u mass of13H = 3.015501 u mass of42He = 4.001506 u mass of01n = 1.008665 u
Fusion occurs naturally in the core of stars.
Explain why very high densities of matter and very high temperatures are needed to bring about and maintain nuclear fusion in stars.
In a plasma experiment 5.0 mg of deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, occupies a volume of 98 m3. The temperature of deuterium is raised to 1.3 
108K. In this experiment, the deuterium behaves as an ideal gas.
Calculate the pressure due to the deuterium ions.
mass of deuterium ion = 3.3 
10−27kg
Calculate the root mean square speed of the deuterium ions at this temperature.
The temperature of the plasma is monitored using the Doppler effect. Light from a laser is directed into the plasma and the wavelength of the light reflected is measured.
The Doppler shift observed when light is reflected by a deuterium ion is twice the Doppler shift that would be observed for a source of light moving at the same speed as the deuterium ion.
Calculate the maximum wavelength of light that would be detected after reflection from a deuterium ion moving at 1.5 × 106m s−1.
wavelength of laser light = 1064 nm
At the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) experiments are carried out to investigate nuclear fusion and the properties of plasmas. A plasma consists of ionised gas, containing positive ions and electrons.
Fusion occurs naturally in the core of stars.
Explain why very high densities of matter and very high temperatures are needed to bring about and maintain nuclear fusion in stars.
In a plasma experiment 5.0 mg of deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, occupies a volume of 98 m3. The temperature of deuterium is raised to 1.3 108K. In this experiment, the deuterium behaves as an ideal gas.
Calculate the pressure due to the deuterium ions.
mass of deuterium ion = 3.3 10−27kg
Calculate the root mean square speed of the deuterium ions at this temperature.
The temperature of the plasma is monitored using the Doppler effect. Light from a laser is directed into the plasma and the wavelength of the light reflected is measured.
The Doppler shift observed when light is reflected by a deuterium ion is twice the Doppler shift that would be observed for a source of light moving at the same speed as the deuterium ion.
Calculate the maximum wavelength of light that would be detected after reflection from a deuterium ion moving at 1.5 × 106m s−1.
wavelength of laser light = 1064 nm
Nuclear fusion involves small nuclei joining to make larger nuclei. Nuclear fission involves large nuclei splitting to become smaller nuclei. Both of these processes release energy.
The graph shows how the binding energy per nucleon varies with nucleon number for a range of isotopes.
Use the binding energy per nucleon curve to explain how fusion and fission both release energy.
Explain the conditions required to bring about and maintain nuclear fusion.
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