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Chapter 16: Problem 93

Why are such high temperatures needed to initiate nuclear fusion?

Short Answer

Expert verified
High temperatures are needed to initiate nuclear fusion as they provide the particles with enough kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged nuclei. At extremely high temperatures, in the range of tens of millions of degrees Kelvin, the kinetic energy of the colliding particles is sufficient for the attractive nuclear forces to dominate, causing the nuclei to fuse together and release a significant amount of energy.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two atomic nuclei come close enough to combine and form a single heavier nucleus while releasing a significant amount of energy. This process powers stars, including our own Sun. For fusion to occur, the participating nuclei need to overcome their mutual electrostatic repulsion due to their positive charges.
02

Electrostatic Repulsion

Electrostatic repulsion refers to the force that pushes positively charged particles apart from each other. Since atomic nuclei are positively charged due to the presence of protons, they experience a repulsive force when they come close to each other. This repulsion must be overcome for nuclear fusion to take place.
03

Role of Temperature in Nuclear Fusion

Temperature is related to the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system. If a gas is hotter, its particles move faster, and their average kinetic energy is higher. In the context of nuclear fusion, a higher kinetic energy of the particles would imply that they have a greater chance of overcoming electrostatic repulsion when they collide.
04

The Importance of High Temperature

The reason why nuclear fusion requires very high temperatures is because, without sufficient temperature, the participating nuclei cannot overcome their electrostatic repulsion. At these high temperatures, the particles have enough kinetic energy to come so close that the attractive nuclear force between them becomes dominant and causes them to fuse together. The temperatures at which nuclear fusion reactions occur are usually in the range of tens of millions of degrees Kelvin. In conclusion, high temperatures are required to initiate nuclear fusion because they provide the particles with enough kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion and trigger the fusion process.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Consider the fission reaction \({ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+{ }_{92}^{235} \mathrm{U} \rightarrow{ }_{37}^{89} \mathrm{Rb}+3{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+3{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+?\) (a) What is the missing fission product represented by the question mark? (b) What is it about this reaction that allows for a chain reaction? (c) How much energy, in kilojoules, is released per gram of \({ }^{235} \mathrm{U} ?\) [Molar masses: \({ }^{235} \mathrm{U}, 235.0439 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol}\) \({ }^{89} \mathrm{Rb}, 88.8913 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol} ;\) missing product, \(143.8817 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol} ;{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}, 1.00870 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol} ;\) \(\left.{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}, 0.00055 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol}\right]\) (d) How many kilograms of TNT must be detonated to produce the same amount of energy if the energy released per gram of TNT detonated is \(2.76 \mathrm{~kJ}\) ?

Of the types of radioactive decay studied in this chapter, which is least likely to damage you upon external exposure? Which is most likely? Explain fully.

How many half-lives does it take for a \(10-\mathrm{g}\) sample of \({ }_{53}^{123} \mathrm{I}\) to drop to \(0.039 \mathrm{~g} ?\) What length of time is this? [The half-life of \({ }_{53}^{123} \mathrm{I}\) is \(13.1 \mathrm{~h}\). \(]\)

Thorium-232 undergoes the following decays successively: parent \({ }^{232}\) Th decays to six alpha particles plus daughter 1, then daughter 1 decays to four beta particles plus daughter \(2 .\) Identify daughter 2 .

What happens to the mass number and the atomic number of an atom when its nucleus: (a) Ejects a beta particle? (b) Ejects a positron? (c) Undergoes electron capture? (d) Ejects an alpha particle?
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