Difference between revisions of "Nuclear Fusion"
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===About Nuclear Fusion=== | ===About Nuclear Fusion=== | ||
| + | : In a '''nuclear fusion reaction''' the products have less [[mass]] than the reactants as some of the [[mass]] is converted into [[energy]] in the process due to the [[Mass-Energy Equivalence]]. | ||
: For a '''fusion''' [[Nuclear Reaction|reaction]] to occur the two [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]] must have enough [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]] to overcome the [[Electrostatic Force|electrostatic force]] of repulsion between the [[Positive Charge|positively charged]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]]. | : For a '''fusion''' [[Nuclear Reaction|reaction]] to occur the two [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]] must have enough [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]] to overcome the [[Electrostatic Force|electrostatic force]] of repulsion between the [[Positive Charge|positively charged]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]]. | ||
| − | : To provide enough [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]] to the [[Atomic | + | : To provide enough [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]] to the [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]] the [[substance]] must be [[heat]]ed to a [[temperature]] of several million [[Degrees Celsius|degrees Celsius]]. |
: '''Nuclear fusion''' occurs naturally in the centre of a [[Star]] due to the high [[temperature]]s and [[pressure]]. | : '''Nuclear fusion''' occurs naturally in the centre of a [[Star]] due to the high [[temperature]]s and [[pressure]]. | ||
: '''Nuclear fusion''' is possible in [[laboratory|laboratories]] on [[Earth]] but it cannot be sustained for long periods of [[time]] to produce enough [[energy]] to be useful as an [[Energy Resource|energy resource]]. | : '''Nuclear fusion''' is possible in [[laboratory|laboratories]] on [[Earth]] but it cannot be sustained for long periods of [[time]] to produce enough [[energy]] to be useful as an [[Energy Resource|energy resource]]. | ||
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| style="height:20px; width:500px; text-align:center;" |'''Fusion''' of two [[Hydrogen]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]] ([[proton]]s) produces a [[Deuterium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]]. | | style="height:20px; width:500px; text-align:center;" |'''Fusion''' of two [[Hydrogen]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nuclei]] ([[proton]]s) produces a [[Deuterium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]]. | ||
| − | <math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^1H \rightarrow {}_1^2H + {}_{ | + | <math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^1H \rightarrow {}_1^2H + {}_{+1}^0\beta</math> |
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| style="height:20px; width:500px; text-align:center;" |'''Fusion''' of a [[Hydrogen]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] ([[proton]]) and a [[Deuterium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] produces a [[Tritium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]]. | | style="height:20px; width:500px; text-align:center;" |'''Fusion''' of a [[Hydrogen]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] ([[proton]]) and a [[Deuterium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] produces a [[Tritium]] [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]]. | ||
| − | <math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^2H \rightarrow {}_1^3H + {}_{ | + | <math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^2H \rightarrow {}_1^3H + {}_{+1}^0\beta</math> |
|} | |} | ||
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<math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^3H \rightarrow {}_2^4He</math> | <math>{}_1^1H + {}_1^3H \rightarrow {}_2^4He</math> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===References=== | ||
| + | ====AQA==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471851370/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1471851370&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=01c69b0ae058f809cf636033e6ba793e ''Nuclear fusion, page 108, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471851346/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1471851346&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=3ac654f4b0da781c49c855a1af4c92ea ''Nuclear fusion, page 244, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/019835939X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=019835939X&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=57e96876985fc39b1a3d8a3e3dc238b6 ''Nuclear fusion, pages 106-107, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945970/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945970&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=a120d24dcc7cc7a58192069a3aafc1d2 ''Nuclear fusion, pages 140, 141, 318, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471851362/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1471851362&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=7d78d70a2044ee9982dae010c94af92a ''Nuclear fusion, pages 187-8, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/178294558X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=178294558X&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=f0dfb66dafcb0c6e9449e7b1a4ae1ac339 ''Nuclear fusion, pages 49, 100, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1471851370/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1471851370&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=01c69b0ae058f809cf636033e6ba793e ''Nuclear fusion; in stars, page 252, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA ''] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Edexcel==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945733/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945733&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=2a2dbec9db6bf5766c0458d908fa0a52 ''Nuclear fusion, page 58, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel ''] | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1292120223/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1292120223&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=068ecf40278c32406a7f1c6e66751417 ''Nuclear fusion, pages 110, 114-115, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel ''] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====OCR==== | ||
| + | :[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198359837/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0198359837&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=3c4229e8b023b2b60768e7ea2307cc6f ''Nuclear fusion, pages 186-187, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR ''] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:35, 22 January 2021
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Nuclear fusion is a process in which two small atomic nuclei join together to become a larger nucleus.
About Nuclear Fusion
- In a nuclear fusion reaction the products have less mass than the reactants as some of the mass is converted into energy in the process due to the Mass-Energy Equivalence.
- For a fusion reaction to occur the two nuclei must have enough kinetic energy to overcome the electrostatic force of repulsion between the positively charged nuclei.
- To provide enough kinetic energy to the nuclei the substance must be heated to a temperature of several million degrees Celsius.
- Nuclear fusion occurs naturally in the centre of a Star due to the high temperatures and pressure.
- Nuclear fusion is possible in laboratories on Earth but it cannot be sustained for long periods of time to produce enough energy to be useful as an energy resource.
- Nuclear fusion in laboratories on Earth must be done at much higher temperature than in the centre of Stars because the centre of Stars is a much higher pressure so nuclei collide more often.
Nuclear Fusion Reactions
 |
| Fusion of a Tritium and a Deuterium nucleus produces a Helium nucleus.
\({}_1^2H + {}_1^3H \rightarrow {}_2^4He + {}_0^1n\) This is the most common pathway for nuclear fusion in Stars as the neutron goes on to be captured by a Hydrogen nucleus to become Deuterium or captured by a Deuterium nucleus to become a Tritium nucleus. |
 |
| Fusion of two Hydrogen nuclei (protons) produces a Deuterium nucleus.
\({}_1^1H + {}_1^1H \rightarrow {}_1^2H + {}_{+1}^0\beta\) |
 |
| Fusion of a Hydrogen nucleus (proton) and a Deuterium nucleus produces a Tritium nucleus.
\({}_1^1H + {}_1^2H \rightarrow {}_1^3H + {}_{+1}^0\beta\) |
 |
| Fusion of two Deuterium nuclei produces a Helium nucleus.
\({}_1^2H + {}_1^2H \rightarrow {}_2^4He\) |
 |
| Fusion of a Hydrogen nucleus (proton) and a Tritium nucleus produces a Helium nucleus.
\({}_1^1H + {}_1^3H \rightarrow {}_2^4He\) |
References
AQA
- Nuclear fusion, page 108, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Nuclear fusion, page 244, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Nuclear fusion, pages 106-107, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Nuclear fusion, pages 140, 141, 318, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Nuclear fusion, pages 187-8, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Nuclear fusion, pages 49, 100, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Nuclear fusion; in stars, page 252, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
Edexcel
- Nuclear fusion, page 58, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Nuclear fusion, pages 110, 114-115, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel