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Physics Quiz - Radioactivity - Nuclear Fusion (Questions)

In GCSE Physics you study nuclear fusion, where light nuclei join together and release enormous energy, similar to the reactions powering our Sun and other stars.

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Fascinating Fact:

Fusion requires extremely high temperatures and pressures so that nuclei can overcome their electrostatic repulsion.

In GCSE Physics, nuclear fusion is the process where small nuclei, such as isotopes of hydrogen, combine to form larger nuclei. You explore how fusion powers stars, why it is difficult to reproduce on Earth, and why scientists are interested in fusion as a possible future energy source.

Key Terms

  • Nuclear fusion: A reaction where light atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy.
  • Plasma: A very hot, ionised gas made of charged particles, often needed for fusion reactions.
  • Electrostatic repulsion: The force that pushes positively charged nuclei apart because they have the same charge.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is nuclear fusion in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics, nuclear fusion is described as a reaction where small nuclei, like deuterium and tritium, join together to form a larger nucleus. This process releases a lot of energy.

Why does nuclear fusion need very high temperature and pressure?

Nuclear fusion needs extremely high temperature and pressure so that nuclei move fast enough and are pushed close enough together to overcome their electrostatic repulsion and collide.

Is nuclear fusion used in power stations today?

At the moment, commercial power stations do not use nuclear fusion. Fusion is still being researched in experimental reactors, which aim to show that it can produce useful electricity in the future.

Try These Related Quizzes

1. What is nuclear fusion?
[ ] Nuclear fusion is the separation of an atomic nucleus into two smaller nuclei
[ ] Nuclear fusion is the joining of two atomic nuclei into one larger nucleus
[ ] Nuclear fusion is the process by which atoms absorb energy
[ ] Nuclear fusion occurs when atoms absorb electrons
2. Which of the following is an example of nuclear fusion?
[ ] Energy released by nuclear power plants
[ ] Energy created to power trains
[ ] Energy released in stars
[ ] Energy released to thrust rockets into space
3. What force pulls dust and gas together in space to form stars?
[ ] Electro-weak force
[ ] Electromagnetic force
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Strong force
4. Which element was abundant in the early universe?
[ ] Hydrogen
[ ] Iron
[ ] Oxygen
[ ] Zinc
5. How were most of the heavier elements in the universe created?
[ ] Within stars and ejected into space when the stars exploded
[ ] Gravity pulled smaller atoms together
[ ] Electro-attraction
[ ] Smaller atoms randomly collided together to form heavier elements
6. Why does a star not explode or collapse during the 'main sequence' of its life?
[ ] Not enough energy within the star to explode or collapse
[ ] The forces within it are in equilibrium
[ ] The star is solid so cannot collapse
[ ] They do explode when they reach their 'main sequence'
7. Every star goes through a life cycle. What is this life cycle determined by?
[ ] Elements within the star
[ ] Size of the star
[ ] Gravity surrounding the star
[ ] Number of planets orbiting the star
8. When a star dies, which of the following could a star turn into?
[ ] White dwarf
[ ] Black hole
[ ] Supernova
[ ] All of the above
9. How can we detect black holes if we can't see them?
[ ] We can see them when other stars shine on them
[ ] We can detect their immense gravitation strength affecting other objects
[ ] We can send probes into space and if we lose one we know it has entered a black hole
[ ] There is no way to detect black holes
10. Which element is the main source of fuel that our sun uses for the process of nuclear fusion?
[ ] Hydrogen
[ ] Zinc
[ ] Boron
[ ] Lead

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Nuclear fusion

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Physics Quiz - Radioactivity - Nuclear Fusion (Answers)
1. What is nuclear fusion?
[ ] Nuclear fusion is the separation of an atomic nucleus into two smaller nuclei
[x] Nuclear fusion is the joining of two atomic nuclei into one larger nucleus
[ ] Nuclear fusion is the process by which atoms absorb energy
[ ] Nuclear fusion occurs when atoms absorb electrons
The process requires large amounts of energy to start. When it has started, the energy released from the fusion reaction is more than enough to keep it going - it is a chain reaction. Overall, it is highly exothermic
2. Which of the following is an example of nuclear fusion?
[ ] Energy released by nuclear power plants
[ ] Energy created to power trains
[x] Energy released in stars
[ ] Energy released to thrust rockets into space
Stars are excellent examples of the process of nuclear fusion. They burn vast quantities of fuel every second, and reach incredibly hot temperatures
3. What force pulls dust and gas together in space to form stars?
[ ] Electro-weak force
[ ] Electromagnetic force
[x] Gravity
[ ] Strong force
Anything that has mass has a gravitational attraction, however small
4. Which element was abundant in the early universe?
[x] Hydrogen
[ ] Iron
[ ] Oxygen
[ ] Zinc
It is the simplest element
5. How were most of the heavier elements in the universe created?
[x] Within stars and ejected into space when the stars exploded
[ ] Gravity pulled smaller atoms together
[ ] Electro-attraction
[ ] Smaller atoms randomly collided together to form heavier elements
It is in supernova explosions that the naturally-occurring elements with atomic numbers greater than that of iron are formed
6. Why does a star not explode or collapse during the 'main sequence' of its life?
[ ] Not enough energy within the star to explode or collapse
[x] The forces within it are in equilibrium
[ ] The star is solid so cannot collapse
[ ] They do explode when they reach their 'main sequence'
The gravitational pull of the weight of the star is in equilibrium with the outward radiation pressure generated by the burning of the fuel within the core of the star
7. Every star goes through a life cycle. What is this life cycle determined by?
[ ] Elements within the star
[x] Size of the star
[ ] Gravity surrounding the star
[ ] Number of planets orbiting the star
Stars containing the most mass burn the brightest and have the shortest lifespan. Without these super-massive stars, only the elements up to and including iron would exist naturally
8. When a star dies, which of the following could a star turn into?
[ ] White dwarf
[ ] Black hole
[ ] Supernova
[x] All of the above
The material in a white dwarf is extremely dense as there is no more radiation pressure from nuclear fusion to balance the inward pull of gravity
9. How can we detect black holes if we can't see them?
[ ] We can see them when other stars shine on them
[x] We can detect their immense gravitation strength affecting other objects
[ ] We can send probes into space and if we lose one we know it has entered a black hole
[ ] There is no way to detect black holes
No one has ever seen a black hole directly, but we know they are there because of the gravitational effect they have on other objects within their vicinity
10. Which element is the main source of fuel that our sun uses for the process of nuclear fusion?
[x] Hydrogen
[ ] Zinc
[ ] Boron
[ ] Lead
The Sun is about four and a half thousand million years old. This is about half way through its life cycle
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