Which physical conditions are required to initiate nuclear fusion between light isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Extremely high temperatures and pressures
- Step 1: Analyze Coulombic electrostatic repulsion: positively charged hydrogen nuclei experience strong repulsive forces as they approach one another.
- Step 2: Temperatures exceeding provide sufficient kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion, allowing the short-range strong nuclear force to bind the nuclei into helium.
Answer
Extremely high temperatures and pressures.
Why not the others: 'Absolute zero temperatures in a deep vacuum' provides zero kinetic energy, making fusion impossible; 'High electromagnetic radio frequencies at ambient air' cannot overcome nuclear Coulomb barriers; 'Moderate temperatures with a transition metal catalyst' describes chemical catalysis, which cannot alter nuclear forces.
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