101.school
CoursesAbout
Search...⌘K
Generate a course with AI...

    Nuclear Fusion

    Receive aemail containing the next unit.
    • Introduction to Nuclear Fusion
      • 1.1Definition and Overview of Nuclear Fusion
      • 1.2Importance of Nuclear Fusion
      • 1.3Applications of Nuclear Fusion
    • Physics of Nuclear Fusion
      • 2.1Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics
      • 2.2Physics of Fusion Reactions
      • 2.3Fusion Cross-sections
    • Energy from Nuclear Fusion
      • 3.1Fusion Reaction Rates
      • 3.2Energy Production
      • 3.3Conditions for Energy Gain
    • Fusion Fuel Cycles
      • 4.1Deuterium-Tritium Fusion
      • 4.2Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion
      • 4.3Helium-3 Fusion
    • Fusion Plasmas
      • 5.1Kinetic Theory of Plasmas
      • 5.2Plasma Confinement
      • 5.3Magnetohydrodynamics
    • Fusion Reactors
      • 6.1Tokamak Fusion Reactor
      • 6.2Stellarator Fusion Reactor
      • 6.3Inertial Confinement Fusion Reactor
    • Confinement and Heating
      • 7.1Magnetic and Inertial Confinement
      • 7.2Laser and Radio-Frequency Heating
      • 7.3Confinement Time and Temperature
    • Fusion Reactor Design
      • 8.1Conceptual Design
      • 8.2Power Plant Design
      • 8.3Safety Systems
    • Radiation and Safety
      • 9.1Radiation Types and their Impact
      • 9.2Radiation Shielding
      • 9.3Radiation Monitoring and Safety
    • Fusion Reactor Materials
      • 10.1Plasma Facing Materials
      • 10.2Neutron Irradiation Effects
      • 10.3Material Selection for Fusion Reactors
    • Fusion and the Environment
      • 11.1Fusion as a Clean Energy Source
      • 11.2Environmental Impact and Sustainability
      • 11.3Waste Management
    • Challenges in Nuclear Fusion
      • 12.1Technological Challenges
      • 12.2Economic Challenges
      • 12.3Sociopolitical Challenges
    • The Future of Nuclear Fusion
      • 13.1Current Research in Fusion Energy
      • 13.2Future Possibilities
      • 13.3Role of Fusion in Future Energy Mix

    Physics of Nuclear Fusion

    Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics

    field of physics that deals with the structure and behavior of atomic nuclei

    Field of physics that deals with the structure and behavior of atomic nuclei.

    Nuclear physics is a field of physics that studies the constituents and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those in nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging.

    Basic Nuclear Constituents: Protons and Neutrons

    The nucleus of an atom is composed of two types of particles: protons and neutrons, collectively known as nucleons. Protons carry a positive electric charge, while neutrons are electrically neutral. The number of protons in a nucleus determines the atomic number and identifies the chemical element.

    Nuclear Forces and Binding Energy

    Nucleons are held together in the nucleus by the nuclear force, which is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. This force is much stronger than the electromagnetic force that would otherwise push the positively charged protons apart, but it acts over a very short range.

    The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy required to disassemble a nucleus into its separate components. It is this energy, precisely the mass defect (the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual nucleons), that is released in nuclear reactions according to Einstein's equation E=mc^2.

    Nuclear Reactions and Energy Release

    Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nucleus, leading to a change in the composition of a nucleus. These reactions can be of various types, including radioactive decay, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.

    In nuclear fusion, the nuclei of two light atoms combine to form a heavier atom. This process releases a large amount of energy due to the conversion of some of the mass of the reacting particles into energy, as predicted by Einstein's equation. The sun and other stars use nuclear fusion to generate their energy.

    In conclusion, understanding the fundamentals of nuclear physics is crucial for comprehending how nuclear fusion works. The basic constituents of the nucleus, the forces that hold them together, and the energy released when these forces are overcome are all key concepts in the study of nuclear fusion.

    Test me
    Practical exercise
    Further reading

    Good morning my good sir, any questions for me?

    Sign in to chat
    Next up: Physics of Fusion Reactions