Nuclear fusion
The joining together of two smaller atomic nuclei to produce a larger nucleus. Radiation is released when this happens. Nuclear fusion happens in stars like our Sun, and in hydrogen bombs. is a process in which two relatively small Nuclei is the plural of nucleus. The nucleus is the central part of an atom. It contains protons and neutrons, and has most of the mass of the atom. join together to make one larger The central part of an atom. It contains protons and neutrons, and has most of the mass of the atom. The plural of nucleus is nuclei..
Nuclear fusion reactions happen naturally in A large mass at the centre of a Solar System (if there are other bodies present) that produces heat and light, eg the star at the centre of our Solar System is called the Sun., such as our Sun. In one of the fusion reactions, two hydrogen nuclei fuse to form the nucleus of a helium Atoms of an element with the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.:
\(\frac{1}{1}\text{H} + \frac{2}{1}\text{H} \rightarrow \frac{3}{2}\text{H}\)
The The amount of matter an object contains. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g). of the helium nucleus is very slightly less than the total mass of the two hydrogen nuclei. The 鈥榤issing鈥 mass is converted into the energy of Energy carried by particles from a radioactive substance, or spreading out from a source. during the fusion process.
Some of this is transferred as visible light which we can see, and infrared radiation which we sense as heating. It is also transferred as other types of electromagnetic radiation such as a A type of ionising radiation that is also part of the EM spectrum. It has no mass. and Electromagnetic radiation with a greater frequency than visible light but less than X-rays. Humans cannot see it but it can damage eyes and skin in high doses..
Using fusion
All nuclei are positively charged, so they Objects that tend to push apart because of a force between them repel each other. each other. This means that high temperatures and pressures are needed to bring them together so they can join. These conditions are found in stars but are difficult to achieve on Earth. Scientists and engineers are researching ways to build fusion reactors but this is proving difficult. However, hydrogen bombs release huge, uncontrolled amounts of energy through nuclear fusion.