Nuclear fusion

Explanation

Nuclear fusion is the process in which lighter nuclei fuse together at a very high temperature to form a stable heavier nucleus. In the process, a massive amount of energy is released along with protons and neutrons. A good example of the nuclear fusion reaction is the stars. The hydrogen atoms in the core of the sun, fuses due to the high kinetic energy from the temperature to form helium, thus powering it up with the energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the energy of the nuclear fusion reaction come from?

The energy released is attributed to the energy required to overcome the long-range electrostatic repulsion of protons, so that the lighter nuclei could fuse together and form a heavier nucleus. This is also the reason why the combined mass of the nuclei is higher than the mass of the heavier nucleus formed after the reaction. The lost mass attributes to the released energy and other subatomic particles released along with it.