Edexcel IGCSE Physics 7.26 Fusion conditions
Practise explaining why fusion needs extreme temperature and pressure so positive nuclei can overcome repulsion and get close enough to fuse.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2019
- Course
- Physics 4PH1
Exam points
- explain how high temperature gives nuclei enough kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion
- link high pressure to nuclei being closer together and more likely to collide and fuse
7.26 Fusion conditions question 1
[Maximum number: 3]
Some of the energy stored in the nuclei of atoms can be used to generate electricity.
Nuclear fusion is another process that could be used to generate electricity.
Generating electricity from nuclear fusion is very difficult as the conditions needed are hard to achieve and maintain.
Explain the conditions required for nuclear fusion.
Any three from:
- MP1. high temperature required
- MP2. to increase kinetic energy of nuclei
- MP3. high pressure required
- MP4. nuclei need to be close enough to collide
- MP5. nuclei repel each other
Accept:
- high temperature to make nuclei move faster
- particles or atoms for nuclei for this marking point
- higher level answers in terms of short range strong nuclear force
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