Which statements about nuclear fusion are false? Select the two correct answers.(1 point)
Responses
The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium.
The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium.
Nuclear fusion takes place in the cores of stars.
Nuclear fusion takes place in the cores of stars.
Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants.
Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants.
Nuclear fusion releases large amounts of energy.
The false statements about nuclear fusion are:
1. The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium.
2. Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants.
The two false statements are:
1. The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium. (False: The fuel for nuclear fusion is often hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium, not uranium.)
2. Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants. (False: Nuclear fusion is not currently used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants. It is still an ongoing research and development effort to achieve controlled nuclear fusion for practical energy production.)
To determine which statements about nuclear fusion are false, let's evaluate each statement individually:
1. "The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium."
This statement is false. The fuel commonly used for nuclear fission (not fusion) is uranium, while nuclear fusion involves the combination of light elements like hydrogen isotopes (such as deuterium and tritium) to form heavier elements.
2. "Nuclear fusion takes place in the cores of stars."
This statement is true. Nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars, including our Sun. It occurs in the extremely high temperatures and pressures at the cores of stars.
3. "Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants."
This statement is false. While nuclear fission is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants, we have not yet achieved controlled nuclear fusion as a practical power source on Earth. Scientists are actively researching fusion as a potential future energy source, but it is not currently used in power plants.
4. "Nuclear fusion releases large amounts of energy."
This statement is true. Nuclear fusion is known to release vast amounts of energy. When light atomic nuclei combine to form heavier ones, a small fraction of their mass is converted into energy according to Einstein's equation, E=mc². This energy release powers the sun and other stars.
Therefore, the correct answers are:
1. The fuel for nuclear fusion is often uranium. (False)
3. Nuclear fusion is used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants. (False)