Question

Which statement is true about nuclear fusion?
It does not occur naturally in the solar system.
It produces nearly all the elements that are heavier than helium.

Answer 1

Neither statement is true.

- Fusion does occur naturally in the solar system — the Sun (and other stars) produce energy by nuclear fusion.
- Fusion in stars builds elements up to about iron, but elements heavier than iron are mostly formed by neutron-capture processes (s-process in AGB stars and r-process in supernovae or neutron-star mergers), not by fusion.