Question detail
Why does nuclear fusion require very high temperatures?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Nuclear fission and fusion
Question
- A. To provide enough energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei
- B. To increase the mass of the nuclei involved
- C. To slow down the nuclei for better collisions
- D. To enhance the stability of the resulting nucleus
Answer
The correct answer is A: To provide enough energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.
Explanation
The correct answer is A: To provide enough energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei. This supports the learning objective "(Physics only) Explain why fusion requires very high temperatures." in Nuclear fusion (physics only) because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Nuclear fission and fusion. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Nuclear fusion (physics only) idea: To increase the mass of the nuclei involved; To slow down the nuclei for better collisions; To enhance the stability of the resulting nucleus.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Fusion Temperature Requirements
Students often think that fusion can occur at normal temperatures without understanding the need for extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between positively charged nuclei.
Emphasize that fusion requires very high temperatures, typically in the millions of degrees, to provide the necessary energy for nuclei to collide and fuse.
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