11. Which statement is TRUE about nuclear FUSION?
O Nuclear fusion only releases a small amount of energy.
O Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form one, heavier atom
O Nuclear fusion is used to provide electricity at nuclear power plants
O Nuclear fusion is when atoms split apart
O Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form one, heavier atom
The correct statement about nuclear fusion is:
O Nuclear fusion is used to provide electricity at nuclear power plants.
To determine which statement is TRUE about nuclear fusion, let's analyze each option:
O Nuclear fusion only releases a small amount of energy: This statement is incorrect. Nuclear fusion is actually known for releasing a tremendous amount of energy. In fusion, two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a significant amount of energy in the process.
O Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form one, heavier atom: This statement is partially correct. Nuclear fusion does involve the combination of two atomic nuclei, but it doesn't always result in the formation of a single, heavier atom. Instead, it often leads to the creation of a different element altogether, such as the fusion of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) in the Sun.
O Nuclear fusion is used to provide electricity at nuclear power plants: This statement is currently incorrect. While nuclear power plants do produce electricity, they rely on nuclear fission rather than fusion. Nuclear fission involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, as opposed to fusion, which involves the merging of atomic nuclei.
O Nuclear fusion is when atoms split apart: This statement is incorrect. Nuclear fusion refers to the process of atomic nuclei merging together, not splitting apart. The process of splitting atomic nuclei is called nuclear fission.
Based on the explanations provided, the only true statement about nuclear fusion is:
"Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form one, heavier atom."