Solved: Nuclear Fusion in the Sun. The source of the suns

Chapter 23, Problem 23.77

(choose chapter or problem)

Nuclear Fusion in the Sun. The source of the sun’s energy is a sequence of nuclear reactions that occur in its core. The first of these reactions involves the collision of two protons, which fuse together to form a heavier nucleus and release energy. For this process, called nuclear fusion, to occur, the two protons must first approach until their surfaces are essentially in contact. (a) Assume both protons are moving with the same speed and they collide head­-on. If the radius of the proton is \(1.2 \times 10^{-15}\mathrm{\ m}\), what is the minimum speed that will allow fusion to occur? The charge distribution within a proton is spherically symmetric, so the electric field and potential outside a proton are the same as if it were a point charge. The mass of the proton is \(1.67 \times 10^{-27}\mathrm{\ kg}\). (b) Another nuclear fusion reaction that occurs in the sun’s core involves a collision between two helium nuclei, each of which has 2.99 times the mass of the proton, charge \(+2 e\), and radius \(3.5 \times 10^{-15}\mathrm{\ m}\). Assuming the same collision geometry as in part (a), what minimum speed is required for this fusion reaction to take place if the nuclei must approach a center-to­-center distance of about \(3.5 \times 10^{-15}\) m? As for the proton, the charge of the helium nucleus is uniformly distributed throughout its volume. (c) In Section 18.3 it was shown that the average translational kinetic energy of a particle with mass m in a gas at absolute temperature \(T \text { is } \frac{3}{2} k T\), where k is the Boltzmann constant (given in Appendix F). For two protons with kinetic energy equal to this average value to be able to undergo the process described in part (a), what absolute temperature is required? What absolute temperature is required for two average helium nuclei to be able to undergo the process described in part (b)? (At these temperatures, atoms are completely ionized, so nuclei and electrons move separately.) (d) The temperature in the sun’s core is about \(1.5 \times 10^7\mathrm{\ K}\). How does this compare to the temperatures calculated in part (c)? How can the reactions described in parts (a) and (b) occur at all in the interior of the sun? (Hint: See the discussion of the distribution of molecular speeds in Section 18.5.)