Nuclear fusion

Question 1

What is nuclear fusion

Answer 1

• The process by which two lighter nuclei fuse together to form one heavier nuclei

Question 2

What are some current applications of nuclear fusion

Answer 2

• Nuclear fusion is what powers stars (hydrogen nuclei fused into a helium nuclei)
• How all elements heavier than hydrogen were made

Question 3

How does nuclear fusion release energy

Answer 3

• Nuclear fusion releases tons of energy (more than fission)
• Some of the starting mass is converted to energy
• The heavier nuclei will be slightly lighter than the sum of the two starting nuclei

Question 4

What are the conditions for nuclear fusion and why

Answer 4

• Only occurs at very high pressures and temperature (10,000,000 C)
• This is because a lot of energy is required to overvome the strong repulsion of positively charged nuclei
• Therefore, we can’t currently fo it on earth

Question 5

What are some pros of nuclear fusion

Answer 5

• No radioactive waste
• Easy to obtain fuel (hydrogen)

Question 6

What type of energy does nuclear fusion release

Answer 6

• Releases energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation