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Nuclear Fusion

AQA A-level PhysicsNuclear EnergyLesson 6 of 8

The fusion of two smaller nuclear results in an increase in the binding energy of the product as long as the mass number is less than 56. For fusion to occur, the nuclei would have to collide at high speed i.e. with high kinetic energy to overcome the proton repulsion.

Diagram

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Key terms in this lesson

Binding energy
The energy needed to completely separate a nucleus into its individual, unbound protons and neutrons.

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