6.2.3 - Nuclear Fusion

Question 1

What happens in nuclear fusion?

Answer 1

Lighter nuclei can join together to make more stable nuclei in a process called nuclear fusion.

Question 2

Doe is release a large or small amount of energy?

Answer 2

Large.

Question 3

What is the energy in the Sun associated with?

Answer 3

Hydrogen nuclei, or protons.

Question 4

What happens to the protons (Sun)?

Answer 4

They fuse together to form larger nuclei, such as isotopes of hydrogen or helium.

Question 5

Eventually, what do the reactions (Sun) make?

Answer 5

Elements such as carbon or oxygen, and eventually iron.

Question 6

In the nuclear fusions reactions (Sun), what store is energy transferred from?

Answer 6

A nuclear store by heating and electromagnetic radiation.

Question 7

What is the problem when trying to join two nuclei together?

Answer 7

They have the same charge.

Question 8

What do most fusion reactions involve?

Answer 8

Isotopes of hydrogen.

Question 9

What can you fuse two protons together to make?

Answer 9

Deuterium (hydrogen-2).

Question 10

Once you have made deuterium, what can you then make?

Answer 10

Tritium (hydrogen -3).

Question 11

What do the hydrogen-2 and hydrogen-3 fuse to form?

Answer 11

A helium nucleus and a neutron.

Question 12

You cannot make elements with nuclei heavier than iron by nuclear fission, what are these made in?

Answer 12

Supernovae (exploding stars).

Question 13

Why should temperatures be high in order for fusion to be possible?

Answer 13

So that the nuclei are moving at very high speeds.

Question 14

Why should pressures be high in order for fusion to be possible?

Answer 14

So that the nuclei are close enougwh to fuse.

Question 15

Where are condition good for fusion to be possible?

Answer 15

The Sun.

Question 16

Is it easy or hard to replicate the conditions found on the sun?

Answer 16

Hard.

Question 17

Where is an example of somewhere that is trying to reproduce the conditions found on the Sun?

Answer 17

The JET fusion reactor in Oxfordshire.

Question 18

Why are places such as the JET fusion reactor in Oxfordshire trying to replicate conditions found on the Sun?

Answer 18

They believe that it would be a cheap and clean way or generating electricity.

Question 19

Which mass is larger, the mass of the reactants or the mass of the products?

Answer 19

The mass of the reactants, but only by a small amount.

Question 20

A tiny mass produces an extremely large amount of energy, in the form of …

Answer 20

Radiation.

Question 21

What equation links to fusion?

Answer 21

E = mc^2

E = Energy
M = Change in mass
C = The speed of light

Question 22

What is the speed of light (C)?

Answer 22

300 million m/s.

Question 23

What is the charge of all nuclei?

Answer 23

+