Which of the following statements is not true of nuclear fusion?
A. It involves the joining of two atoms together into one new atom.
B. It occurs in the sun and other stars.
C. It only occurs in very large, heavy atoms.
D. It releases very large amounts of energy.
All look true to me except for C.
The statement that is not true of nuclear fusion is C. It only occurs in very large, heavy atoms. In reality, nuclear fusion can occur in both heavy and light atoms.
To determine which of the following statements is not true of nuclear fusion, let's analyze each statement:
A. It involves the joining of two atoms together into one new atom.
This statement is true. Nuclear fusion occurs when two atomic nuclei, typically hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium, combine to form a single new atom.
B. It occurs in the sun and other stars.
This statement is true. Nuclear fusion is the primary process that powers stars, including our sun. The extreme temperatures and pressures within stars create the conditions necessary for nuclear fusion to take place.
C. It only occurs in very large, heavy atoms.
This statement is not true. In fact, nuclear fusion often takes place in light elements, such as hydrogen isotopes, which have only one proton in their nuclei. These light elements are more likely to undergo fusion due to their electrostatic repulsion being lower.
D. It releases very large amounts of energy.
This statement is true. When nuclear fusion occurs, a significant amount of energy is released. This energy is a result of the conversion of mass into energy according to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc².
Therefore, the statement that is not true of nuclear fusion is C. It only occurs in very large, heavy atoms.