Question

Fusion reaction takes place at high temperature because

• A. nuclei break up at high temperature
• B. atoms get ionised at high temperature
• C. kinetic energy is high enough to overcome the coulomb repulsion between nuclei
• D. molecules break up at high temperature

Hint:

In order to overcome the coulomb repulsion between nuclei as two lighter nuclei join to produce a heavier nucleus, high temperature, and high pressure are necessary.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

 To understand why fusion reactions require high temperatures, let's delve into the fundamental principles involved in nuclear fusion.

Concept of Nuclear Fusion:

Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases a significant amount of energy and is the principle that powers stars, including our sun.

Why High Temperatures are Necessary:

At the atomic level, atomic nuclei are positively charged, which leads to repulsion due to the Coulomb force (electromagnetic repulsion between like charges). To initiate a fusion reaction, the following conditions are needed:

• Extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees Kelvin) are required to provide the nuclei with sufficient kinetic energy.
• High kinetic energy is necessary to overcome the Coulomb repulsion between the positively charged nuclei so they can come close enough for the strong nuclear force to take over and bind them together.

Correct Option Justification:

Among the options given, the reason fusion takes place at high temperatures is correctly described by:

• "Kinetic energy is high enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion between nuclei"

Conclusion:

In summary, high temperatures in fusion reactions provide the necessary kinetic energy to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between nuclei, allowing them to collide and fuse, releasing vast amounts of energy.