What is Nuclear Fusion?
When two atoms combine or smash together, which finally forms a heavier atom, this process is known as nuclear fusion. For example, two hydrogen atoms fuse together and form one helium atom.
This same process is used by the Sun that powers and generates enormous amounts of energy which is greater than fission. Also, highly radioactive fission products are not produced by it. As observed by scientists, fusion reactions are difficult to sustain for long periods of time; the reason behind it is the huge amount of pressure and temperature which is required to join the nuclei together.
Nuclear fusion reactions form a heavier nucleus using two or more light nuclei that collide together. The nuclear fusion process occurs in elements such as hydrogen that have a low atomic number.
What is Nuclear Fission?
When a neutron bangs into a larger atom, a fission reaction occurs, which forces the atom to excite and split into two smaller atoms and these smaller atoms are also known as fission products. To initiate the chain reaction, additional neutrons are also released. A tremendous amount of energy is released when each atom splits.
The two most commonly used elements for fission reactions are uranium and plutonium, and these elements are used in nuclear power reactors because they can be easily initiated and controlled. In these reactors, the energy that is released by fission heats the water into steam, and eventually, the steam is used to spin a turbine to produce electricity.
In the process of nuclear fission, the nucleus of an atom splits into lighter nuclei through a nuclear reaction.
Important Questions on Nuclear Fusion
1) Nuclear fusion is the phenomenon of _____.
a) Splitting of heavy nucleus
b) Combining of heavy nucleus
c) Splitting of light nucleus
d) Combining of light nucleus
Correct Option: (d)
Explanation: Nuclear fusion is the process in which two or more lighter nuclei fuse together to form a single stable nucleus is known as nuclear fusion.
2) Nuclear fission is the phenomenon of _____.
a) Splitting of heavy nucleus
b) Combining of heavy nucleus
c) Splitting of light nucleus
d) Combining of light nucleus
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: The phenomenon of splitting a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei is known as nuclear fission. Generally, a nucleus has a mass number greater than 230.
3) Which among the following elements is readily available in ordinary water?
a) Uranium
b) Sodium
c) Deuterium
d) Astatine
Correct Option: (c)
Explanation: Deuterium, also known as heavy water, used in fusion reactions, is readily available in ordinary water. Deuteron is known as the nucleus of deuterium, which contains one proton and one neutron.
4) What will happen when a neutron is absorbed by a nucleus of an atom of Uranium – 235?
a) Mass number of atoms decreases
b) One electron increases
c) Uranium – 236 isotope is formed
d) Mass of atom increases
Correct Option: (c)
Explanation: A highly unstable Uranium – 236 isotope is formed, which splits into two equal parts, releasing energy when a neutron is absorbed by a nucleus of Uranium – 235.
5) By whom was nuclear fission discovered?
a) Rutherford
b) Newton
c) Otto Hahn
d) Marie Curie
Correct Option: (c)
Explanation: German scientist Otto Hahn discovered the nuclear fission of heavy metals. Lise Meitner and her nephew Otto Robert Frisch later explained it theoretically in 1939.
6) Atoms having the same number of nucleons but of different chemical elements are known as _________.
a) Isobars
b) Isotones
c) Isomers
d) Isotopes
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: Isobars are atoms that have the same number of nucleons but are of different chemical elements.
7) In the fission process, most of the energy released is in the form of _____.
a) Kinetic energy
b) Thermal energy
c) Heat energy
d) Electric energy
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: In the fission process, most of the energy released is in the form of kinetic energy and is absorbed by fission products which are neutrons and electromagnetic or gamma radiation and fission fragments.
8) _____ is a reaction in which two light nuclei of low mass combine to produce a heavy nucleus.
a) Nuclear fusion
b) Double beta decay
c) Nuclear fission
d) Atomic reaction
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: The process in which two light nuclei of low mass combine to produce a heavy nucleus is known as nuclear fusion, which results in the release of a massive amount of energy.
9) _____ type of reaction takes place in the Sun.
a) Nuclear fusion
b) Double beta decay
c) Nuclear fission
d) Atomic reaction
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: Nuclear fusion is a proton-proton chain reaction that takes place in the Sun as well as stars. Through a series of steps, the Sun turns the protons into helium. The reaction releases a tremendous amount of heat and energy because millions of tons of hydrogen is converted into helium every second on the Sun.
10) Fusion reactions are called _____.
a) Thermonuclear
b) Compound reactions
c) Thermo Uric
d) None of these
Correct Option: (a)
Explanation: The temperature of positively charged nuclei is raised up to millions of degrees to eliminate repulsive forces, which results in plasma formation. A higher temperature is required to initiate and sustain the fusion reaction, and this is the reason why fusion reactions are called thermonuclear.
Practice Questions
1) What is nuclear fusion?
2) What is nuclear fission?
3) Define radioactivity.
4) What is nuclear energy?
5) Which type of reaction takes place in the Sun?
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