nuclear fusion Flashcards
where does nuclear fusion occur
in stars like the sun
what temp is the centre of the sun
at this temperature what happens
15 000 000°C
the nuclei of atoms are all stripped of their orbiting
electrons and they are moving at a tremendous speed. Being positively charged, the nuclei
would normally repel each other, but if they are moving fast enough, they can join (or fuse) to
form a new nucleus
whats the equation to represent this
2,1 H + 3,1H = 4,2 He + 1,0 n + energy
what is nuclear fusion
is the process which light nuclei such as hydrogen combine together to produce a heavier nucleus such as helium they emit a vast amount of energy xs
what collides in the sun to fuse and create a new nucleus
hydrogen isotopes known as deuterium (hydrogen-2) and tritium (or hydrogen-3)
collide and fuse to create a new nucleus, helium-4.
what is the difficulties with fusion
is how to contain the reacting plasma at a high enough temperature and for a sufficiently long time for the reaction to take place
the isotopes widely available as the constituents of sea water and so are nearly inexhaustible.
what does nuclear fusion not emit
carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere this means there will be a almost unlimited source of energy
what are the arguements for nuclear energy
It can produce vast amounts of energy/electricity
* The nuclear processes produce no carbon dioxide (CO2
) and hence do not contribute to
global warming
* Nuclear energy provides the ‘base-load’ for national electricity generation
* It is a high density source of energy, 1 kg of Uranium produces as much electricity as
1 000 000 kg of coal (Fusion produces about 4 times as much as fission per kg of fuel).
* Provides employment opportunities for many people
* Additionally, many nations are planning to build more nuclear reactors. The USA, for example,
envisages building 100 new nuclear power station
what are the arguements against nuclear energy
- The by-product of nuclear energy – nuclear waste and its disposal – has created one of the
greatest problems of the 20th century - Many people are concerned and, indeed, fearful about living close to nuclear power plants
and the storage facilities used for radioactive waste. This gives rise to the acronym NIMBY
(not in my back yard) - This fear has been increased by – the disaster at Chernobyl in the Ukraine in 1986 and– the earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan in 2011, when several reactors
were damaged leading to a meltdown and release of radiation - Although nuclear fission does not release carbon dioxide, the mining, transport and
purification of the uranium ore release significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere
what is iter
an experimental nuclear reactor fusion device being built in southern france
what will ITER be the first device to do
produce net energy
maintain fusion for long periods of time
