Chapter 7.2 - 'Nuclear Fusion'

Question 1

State why scientists are looking to replace nuclear fission reactors with nuclear fusion reactors.

Answer 1

Nuclear fusion supports a higher release of energy.

Nuclear fusion produces no radioactive waste.

Question 2

State wether the mass of the reactants or the mass of the product is greater.

State why.

Answer 2

The mass of the reactants is greater.

Because mass is lost through energy released.

Question 3

State why nuclei need to be at higher speeds for fusion to occur than fission.

Answer 3

Nuclei are positively charged, meaning an electromagnetic repulsion is exerted and the two nuclei are hard to force together. At higher speeds they will have enough kinetic energy to overcome the repulsive force.

Question 4

State the type of environment needed for fusion to occur.

Answer 4

An environment exerting an enormous amount of energy is needed. Temperatures in the millions of degrees are required to enable nuclei to overcome the energy barrier.

Question 5

State what the lower binding values of small nuclei suggests.

Answer 5

Small nuclei are easier to break.

Question 6

Elements with atomic mass numbers of 40-80 have the largest binding energy per nucleon, state what this suggests.

Answer 6

These elements require the most energy to break, therefore are the most stable.

Question 7

State what ‘nuclear fusion’ refers to.

Answer 7

A reaction where small nuclei fuse to form a heavier nuclei with the release of energy.