Nuclear Fusion

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Show/Hide Sub-topics (Nuclear Physics | A Level)
  1. The ɑ-particle Scattering Experiment
  2. Simple Model of The Atom
  3. Atomic Mass
  4. Mass-energy Relation
  5. The Mass Defect 
  6. Binding Energy
  7. Binding Energy Per Nucleon And Nuclear Stability
  8. Nuclear Reactions
  9. Nuclear Fission
  10. Nuclear Fusion
  11. Radioactive Decay
  12. Alpha Particles 
  13. Beta Particles 
  14. Gamma Rays
  15. Comparision of Alpha Particles, Beta Particles And Gamma Rays 
  16. Background Radiation 
  17. Activity, Half-life And Decay constant 
  18. Effects of Radiation On Living Organism 
  19. Geiger-Muller Tube/Counter 

Nuclear fusion is the combining of the two light nuclei to produce a heavier nucleus.

  • A large amount of energy is released during the process because the average binding energy per nucleon of the product has a greater binding energy per nucleon than the two light nuclei before fusion.
  • Fusion is a difficult process to achieve because of the strong electrical repulsion between the nuclei when they are close to each other. Only at extremely high temperatures (~108 K) will the nuclei have enough kinetic energy to overcome the repulsion.
  • Energy released by the fusion of two nuclei is very much less than that which results from fission. However, fusion offers the possibility of energy from almost unlimited fuels, with the key advantage of non-radioactive waste.

Nuclear fission and fusion:

 


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