7.4 Nuclear Fusion – The power of

stars

April 21, 2023

The Sun – Fact or Fiction?

Which statements are fact or fiction?

1. The Sun is the largest object in the solar system.

2. The Sun is made of burning coal.3. The Sun orbits the Earth.4. The Sun is 15 million ºC at the centre.5. The Sun has an atmosphere.6. The Sun ‘burns’ 4 million tons of itself

every second.7. The Sun is the biggest star.

Which statements are fact or fiction?

1. The Sun is the largest object in the solar system. TRUE

2. The Sun is made of burning coal. FALSE3. The Sun orbits the Earth. FALSE4. The Sun is 15 million ºC at the centre.

TRUE5. The Sun has an atmosphere. TRUE6. The Sun ‘burns’ 4 million tons of itself

every second. TRUE7. The Sun is the biggest star. FALSE

7.4 Nuclear Fusion

• The Sun releases energy due to nuclear fusion of hydrogen in its core.

• Nuclear fusion is the joining of 2 small nuclei to make a larger one releasing energy.

• Fusion reactors are difficult to build because of the high temperatures and pressures needed to run them.

April 21, 2023

Any atom with 1 proton is Hydrogen. What are the symbols for Hydrogen 1, Hydrogen 2 and Hydrogen 3?

Isotopes of Hydrogen

H1

1

H2

1

H3

1

Hydrogen - 1

1 Proton

0 Neutron

Hydrogen -2

1 Proton

1 Neutron

1 Proton

2 Neutron

Hydrogen -2

Draw the nucleus

Copy figure 2 on p204 of AQA Physics

Isotopes of Hydrogen

H1

1

H2

1

H3

1

Hydrogen - 1

1 Proton

0 Neutron

Hydrogen -2

1 Proton

1 Neutron

1 Proton

2 Neutron

Hydrogen -2

Answer the summary questions on page 205

7.4 Nuclear Fusion

• The Sun releases energy due to nuclear fusion of hydrogen in its core.

• Nuclear fusion is the joining of 2 small nuclei to make a larger one releasing energy.

• Fusion reactors are difficult to build because of the high temperatures and pressures needed to run them.

April 21, 2023

P204 Copy Figure 2 and read the explanation below