Consider the following statements about nuclear fusion:

Nuclear fusion happens when two heavy atomic nuclei merge to form a lighter nucleus, releasing energy.

It requires extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.

Fusion energy produces minimal long-lived radioactive waste, unlike fission.

How many of the above statements are incorrect?

Question

Nuclear fusion happens when two heavy atomic nuclei merge to form a lighter nucleus, releasing energy. Incorrect: Nuclear fusion involves the merging of light atomic nuclei (such as hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium) to form a heavier nucleus (helium), releasing a vast amount of energy. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not involve heavy nuclei.
It requires extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei. Correct: Fusion requires extremely high temperatures (over 100 million Kelvin) to overcome the Coulomb barrier, which is the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged nuclei.
Fusion energy produces minimal long-lived radioactive waste, unlike fission. Incorrect: Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not generate long-lived radioactive waste. The main byproduct of fusion is helium, which is non-radioactive. Although fusion reactions involving tritium can produce some radioactive materials, their half-life is much shorter than that of fission waste.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

Only two

Nuclear fusion happens when two heavy atomic nuclei merge to form a lighter nucleus, releasing energy. Incorrect: Nuclear fusion involves the merging of light atomic nuclei (such as hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium) to form a heavier nucleus (helium), releasing a vast amount of energy. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not involve heavy nuclei.
It requires extremely high temperatures to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei. Correct: Fusion requires extremely high temperatures (over 100 million Kelvin) to overcome the Coulomb barrier, which is the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged nuclei.
Fusion energy produces minimal long-lived radioactive waste, unlike fission. Incorrect: Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not generate long-lived radioactive waste. The main byproduct of fusion is helium, which is non-radioactive. Although fusion reactions involving tritium can produce some radioactive materials, their half-life is much shorter than that of fission waste.

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