In fusion reaction two light nuclie fuse together to form one heavy nucleus.. We know like charges repel each other then how it's possible for the nuclie to fuse 2gether.
2. How is energy released during fusion reaction.a
if the nuclei have sufficient kinetic energy (usually in the form of high temperature), they can overcome the electrostatic repulsion and approach each other to the distance where the attractive nuclear force (binding energy) takes hold
2. the mass of the fused nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the constituent parts
this "mass defect" is converted to energy a-la Einstein ... E = mc^2
In a nuclear fusion reaction, two light nuclei come close enough together that the strong nuclear force overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons in the nuclei. This allows the nuclei to overcome the electrostatic repulsion and get close enough for the strong nuclear force to bind them together.
To explain this further, consider the fusion reaction that occurs in the Sun, where hydrogen nuclei (protons) combine to form helium nuclei. The process involves the following steps:
1. Overcoming the electrostatic repulsion: Two protons, having positive charges, experience electrostatic repulsion due to like charges. However, at extremely high temperatures and pressures, such as those found in the core of the Sun, a process called quantum tunneling allows the protons to approach each other closely enough for the strong nuclear force to become dominant. Quantum tunneling refers to the phenomenon where particles can "tunnel" through energy barriers that would normally prevent them from coming together.
2. Formation of a deuteron: When two protons come close enough together, one of the protons undergoes a process called beta-plus decay, in which a positron (a positively charged electron) and a neutrino are emitted. This leaves behind a neutron. The original proton, now combined with the neutron, forms a particle called a deuteron, which is a nucleus of deuterium (a heavy isotope of hydrogen).
3. Fusion of two deuterons: Two deuterons can then collide, overcoming the electrostatic repulsion once again, and fuse together to form a helium-4 nucleus. In this process, two protons are converted into a helium nucleus containing two protons and two neutrons.
Now, let's address the second part of your question: How is energy released during fusion reactions?
During the fusion process, the total mass of the resulting nucleus is slightly less than the combined mass of the original nuclei. According to Einstein's famous equation E=mc², a small amount of mass is converted into energy during the fusion reaction. This released energy accounts for the Sun's enormous output of heat and light.
The amount of energy released in a fusion reaction can be calculated using the principle of mass-energy equivalence. The mass difference between the reactants and products is multiplied by the square of the speed of light (c²) to calculate the energy release.
In practical applications, such as in experimental fusion reactors or potential future power plants, achieving and sustaining the required high temperatures and pressures is challenging. Scientists are actively working on developing advanced techniques and technologies to harness fusion energy effectively.