Question

What is thermonuclear fusion?

Options

• Fusion initiated by bombarding nuclei with slow neutrons in a reactor

• Fusion initiated by compressing nuclei using intense gravitational collapse only

• Fusion initiated by extremely high temperature, which gives nuclei enough kinetic energy to approach one another closely

• Fusion initiated by chemical catalysts that lower the activation energy

Answer 1

Thermonuclear fusion is fusion initiated by extremely high temperature. The high temperature gives nuclei enough kinetic energy to approach one another closely, allowing them to overcome the Coulomb barrier and fuse.