I have a mental block with nuclear fusion. Encyclopedias and such like explain it in terms of a balance between the strong nuclear force and EM repulsion. I understand that the more nucleons in a nucleus the more Em repulsion strains against the strong nuclear force but I can't seem to pinpoint where the energy surplus derives from when hydrogen fuses into the heavier helium.
2007-05-05 05:22:05 · 3 answers · asked by Andrew H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I should add that I'm referring to the source of the emitted energy rather than its value in volts, joules etc
2007-05-05 05:23:27 · update #1
There's a gigantic powerful force that subatomic particles have on each other, pulling them together. It's called the "strong force" However it has a very short range.
If you can squeeze Hydrogen close enough together, the H atoms will suddenly "feel" the strong force & will be snapped together.
When a Force is allowed to pull something, energy is released. When a rock is pulled down by gravity, energy is released. WHen a spring is allowed to expand, energy is released.
When the strong force gets its way & snaps the protons together, hi energy photons are emitted. They are emiited from the protons. The protons in turn lose mass according to E=mc2. Mass of the protons is converted into energy (photons)
2007-05-05 05:34:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The actual process of fusion involves combining four protons and two electrons to form one Helium nucleus (along with some neutrinos). The result of this fusion has less mass then the total mass of the individual particles it started with. This loss of mass is turned into energy according to the equation E = MC^2
2007-05-05 21:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by Demiurge42 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whenthis takes place due to the change in energy levels light is emmited in the form of electro magnetic waves
2007-05-05 13:26:51 · answer #3 · answered by soumya y 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋