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Chapter 19: Problem 47

Define nuclear fusion, thermonuclear reaction, and plasma.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei are combined to form different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles, releasing energy. A thermonuclear reaction is a nuclear fusion reaction that occurs at very high temperatures, overcoming the coulomb barrier, and is responsible for the energy production in stars. Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter, comprising of free-moving electrons and ions, and is usually formed under extreme conditions like in the stars.

Step by step solution

01

Define Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei are combined to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons, protons, etc.). The difference in mass between the reactants and products is manifested as energy. This is an exothermic process, which means it releases energy. The energy produced in nuclear fusion is the source of power in the sun and other stars.
02

Define Thermonuclear Reaction

A thermonuclear reaction is a nuclear fusion reaction that occurs at very high temperatures. In such reactions, the kinetic energy of the particles is so high that it overcomes the coulomb barrier, allowing the positively charged atomic nuclei to come close enough to each other for the strong nuclear force to fuse them into a single nucleus. Thermonuclear reactions are responsible for the energy production in stars.
03

Define Plasma

Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter. It comprises of free-moving electrons and ions and is electrically conductive. Very high energy is required to strip electrons from atoms to form plasma. Because of this feature, plasma is usually formed under extreme conditions like in the stars or in artificially created conditions on Earth. The sun and other stars are composed of plasma.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) Calculate the energy released when an U-238 isotope decays to Th-234. The atomic masses are \(\begin{array}{llll}\text { given by } & \text { U-238: } & 238.0508 & \text { amu; } & \text { Th-234: }\end{array}\) 234.0436 amu; He-4: 4.0026 amu. (b) The energy released in (a) is transformed into the kinetic energy of the recoiling Th- 234 nucleus and the \(\alpha\) particle. Which of the two will move away faster? Explain.

The constituents of wine contain, among others, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. A bottle of wine was sealed about 6 yr ago. To confirm its age, which of the isotopes would you choose in a radioactive dating study? The half-lives of the isotopes are \({ }^{13} \mathrm{C}: 5730 \mathrm{yr} ;{ }^{15} \mathrm{O}: 124 \mathrm{~s} ;{ }^{3} \mathrm{H}: 12.5 \mathrm{yr} .\) Assume that the activities of the isotopes were known at the time the bottle was sealed.

How do nuclear reactions differ from ordinary chemical reactions?

Explain the functions of a moderator and a control rod in a nuclear reactor.

How does a Geiger counter work?
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