Nuclear fusion - CCEAFusion

Nuclear fusion occurs when two small, light nuclei join together to make one heavier nucleus. The nuclei fuse together, and energy is released.

Part ofCombined ScienceAtomic and nuclear physics

Fusion

Fusion reactions occur naturally in stars like our sun, where two hydrogen fuse together under high temperatures and pressure to form a nucleus of helium.

Energy is released as such as light, and , which then travels through space.

Process of nuclear fusion, with different isotopes of hydrogen colliding and fusing to make helium.

There are a number of different nuclear fusion reactions happening in stars like our Sun.

For instance, when a of a hydrogen-2 atom (or deuterium) collides with a nucleus of a hydrogen-3 atom (or tritium) a nucleus of helium-4 is created and a is released.

\(_{1}^{2}\textrm{H}+_{1}^{3}\textrm{H}\rightarrow_{2}^{4}\textrm{He}+_{0}^{1}\textrm{n}\)+ energy

Energy is released as electromagnetic radiation.

As with nuclear fission there are many political, social, environmental and ethical issues relating to using the energy released by nuclear fusion to generate electricity.