NUCLEAR FUSION

Nuclear Fusion

• NUCLEAR FUSION- the process in which two small nuclei release energy when they are fused together to form a single larger nucleus.
• fusion can occour by making the 2 light nuclei collide at very high speed.
• it releases energy only if the RELATIVE MASS of the nucleus is no more than 55- (about the same as an iron (Fe) nucleus)
• ENERGY MUST BE SUPPLIED TO CREATE BIGGER NUCLEI.

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In the Sun's Core 

• Sun= about 75% hydrogen, 25% helium. 
• the nuclei's in the sun are all positively charged- and because similar charges repel- it is difficult to get them to fuse together:
• but the sun's core can do this because:
• 1) a lot of HEAT:

contains a 'plasma' of bare nuclei with no electrons. so the nuclei move about and…