Question

“Nuclear fusion is the same process that produces the huge amount of energy released when a hydrogen bomb explodes.” Explain if the given statement is correct or not.

Answer 1

Hint:
In both cases, a nuclear reaction occurs in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the concomitant release of energy and often neutrons.

Complete step by step solution:
Hydrogen bomb or thermonuclear bomb is a nuclear weapon. Its enormous explosive power is resultant of uncontrolled self-sustaining chain reaction. In this reaction, the isotopes of hydrogen combine under extremely high temperatures to form helium in a process, which is known as nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion is a nuclear process, where energy is produced by smashing together light atoms. The sun and other stars generate light and heat due to this process.

It can be achieved on Earth by combining two isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium. Hydrogen is the lightest of all the elements, being made up of a single proton and an electron. Deuterium has an extra neutron in its nucleus. It can replace one of the hydrogen atoms in water, which is known as “heavy water.” Tritium has two extra neutrons. So, tritium is three times heavier than hydrogen.

In order to occur a nuclear fusion reaction, it is necessary to bring two nuclei so close that the nuclear forces become active and stick them together. Nuclear forces are small in distance. But they have to act against the electrostatic forces where positively charged nuclei repel each other. That's why nuclear fusion reactions usually occur in high density and high temperature environments.

Note:
 Remember a thermonuclear or hydrogen bomb differs fundamentally from an atomic bomb in that it utilizes the energy released when two light atomic nuclei combine, or fuse, to form a heavier nucleus. Whereas an atomic bomb uses the energy released when a heavy atomic nucleus spilt or fission into two lighter nuclei.