Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): The process in which two or more light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus is called nuclear fusion.
Statement (II): For nuclear fusion, a temperature of the order of \(10^8\) kelvin is required.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
Statement (I): The process in which two or more light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus is called nuclear fusion. Correct. This is the definition of nuclear fusion; in the Sun, for example, hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium and release a large amount of energy.
Statement (II): For nuclear fusion, a temperature of the order of \(10^8\) kelvin is required. Correct. Nuclei are positively charged and repel each other, so they fuse only when they move fast enough to come very close, which needs temperatures of about \(10^7\) to \(10^8\) K. The core of the Sun is at about \(1.5\times10^7\) K, and fusion reactors heat their fuel to more than \(10^8\) K; this is why fusion is also called a thermonuclear reaction.