Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion - when two small, light nuclei join together to make one heavy nucleus. Fusion reactions occur in stars where two hydrogen nuclei fuse together under high temperatures and pressure to form a nucleus of a helium isotope 1) Many nuclear fusion reactions are happening on the sun. E.g 4 hydrogen nuclei become 1 helium nuclei, causing a missing mass which is converted into energy & radiated away (this is happening on the sun) 2) It is estimated that the sun releases 3.8 × 1026 joules of energy every second 3) Fusion requires fusing of nuclei - positive particles that repel each other when approaching as their the same charge ∴ nuclear fusion must happen quickly so that repulsion doesn't have tine to stop it from happening 4) Particles can travel quickly by being in a hot gas/plasma, the temperature of the hot gas or plasma needs to be at least 150,000,000 degrees Celsius (°C) for fusion to happen