Which statement is true about nuclear fusion?

Question

It is caused by the same process that causes nuclear fission.
It does not occur naturally in the solar system.
It has very low activation energy.
It produces nearly all the elements that are heavier than helium.

Answer 1

The statement that is true about nuclear fusion is: It produces nearly all the elements that are heavier than helium.

To elaborate:

• Nuclear fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy in the process. This is the process that powers stars, including our Sun, and is responsible for the production of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium in stellar environments.

• The other statements are incorrect:

  • Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission are different processes; fission involves splitting a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei, while fusion involves combining light nuclei.
  • Nuclear fusion does occur naturally in the solar system, primarily in stars (including the Sun).
  • Fusion has a higher activation energy requirement than fission; it typically requires very high temperatures and pressures to occur.