Question

Nuclear fusion reactions require that positively charged nuclei be brought into close proximity, against the electrostatic repulsion. As a simple example, suppose a proton is fired at a second, stationary proton from a large distance away. What kinetic energy must be given to the moving proton to get it to come within 1.00e10-15 m of the target? Assume that there is a head-on collision and that the target is fixed in place.