5.9 - Nuclear Fusion
What nuclear fusion is
- Nuclear fusion is when two light nuclei collide at high speed and join together to make a single larger, heavier nucleus.
- For example, hydrogen nuclei fuse to form a helium nucleus.
- Fusion is the process that powers stars, including the Sun, releasing energy by fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores.
Mass is converted to energy in fusion
- When two light nuclei fuse, the heavier nucleus formed has slightly less mass than the two separate nuclei started with.
- That lost mass is converted into energy, released as radiation and the kinetic energy of the particles.
- For a given mass of fuel, fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission.
TermDefinition
Nuclear fusionThe joining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.
Key points to remember
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