Which phrase best describes nuclear fusion?
• The process by which a large nucleus is divided into smaller nuclei
• A series of reactions in which particles from one reaction trigger the next reaction
• The process by which small nuclei combine into a larger nucleus
• The spontaneous emission of radiation from an unstable nucleus
• The process by which small nuclei combine into a larger nucleus
The phrase that best describes nuclear fusion is:
• The process by which small nuclei combine into a larger nucleus
The phrase that best describes nuclear fusion is: "The process by which small nuclei combine into a larger nucleus."
To arrive at the correct answer, we can analyze the options one by one:
- "The process by which a large nucleus is divided into smaller nuclei" is actually the opposite process known as nuclear fission. In nuclear fission, a large nucleus is split into smaller nuclei.
- "A series of reactions in which particles from one reaction trigger the next reaction" describes a chain reaction, which is a concept commonly associated with nuclear reactions but doesn't specifically define nuclear fusion.
- "The spontaneous emission of radiation from an unstable nucleus" describes radioactive decay, which is unrelated to nuclear fusion.
Therefore, the correct answer is the process by which small nuclei combine into a larger nucleus, which is known as nuclear fusion.