(a) Distinguish between nuclear fission and fusion. Show how in both these processes energy is released.
(b) Calculate the energy release in MeV in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction :
`" "_(1)^(2)H+" "_(1)^(3)H to " "_(2)^(4)He +n`
Using the data: `m(" "_(1)^(2)H) = 2.014102 u, m(" "_(1)^(3)H) = 3.016049 u, m(" "_(2)^(4)He) = 4.002603 u, m_(n) = 1.008665 u` and `1 u= 931.5 MeV/c^(2)`.

Explanation

In both these processes total binding energy of products is more than the total binding energy of reactants. As a result energy is released which is equal to the difference between binding energy of products and binding energy of reactants.