Question

In the core of nuclear fusion reactor, the gas becomes plasma because of (A) strong nuclear force acting between the deuterons (B) Coulomb force acting between the deuterons (C) Coulomb force acting between deuteron-electron pairs (D) the high temperature maintained inside the reactor core

Short answer

The gas becomes plasma in the core of a nuclear fusion reactor due to the high temperature maintained inside the reactor core, which is option (D).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. The conditions required for nuclear fusion include extremely high temperature and pressure, which enable the positively charged nuclei to overcome their electrostatic repulsion, also known as the Coulomb force.

Understanding what Plasma is

Plasma is a state of matter where the gas phase is energized until atomic electrons are no longer associated with any particular atomic nucleus. Plasmas are made up of positively charged ions and free electrons and are formed at high temperatures when atoms collide with enough force to knock off electrons.

Identifying the Cause of Plasma State

Within the core of a nuclear fusion reactor, the high temperature is the key condition that provides the energy necessary for the gas to reach the plasma state. The high temperature is what allows the atoms to move with enough kinetic energy to overcome the Coulomb force, collide, and subsequently allow for nuclear fusion to occur.

Key concepts

Plasma State

Imagine heating a pot of soup until the ingredients start breaking down into a broth. In a kind of similar way, plasma is what you get when you heat a gas to an incredibly high temperature. At these fiery temperatures, the atoms in the gas become so energetic that their electrons get stripped away, leaving behind a soup of charged particles: positively charged ions and free electrons.

This plasma soup is really wild—it doesn't act like a regular gas, liquid, or solid. It's often referred to as the fourth state of matter, demonstrating unique attributes such as electrical conductivity and responsiveness to magnetic fields. In fact, plasma makes up the stars, including our sun, and it's essential for technologies ranging from fluorescent lights to, you guessed it, nuclear fusion reactors.

Coulomb Force

When you rub a balloon on your hair, and it sticks to the wall, you're seeing the Coulomb force in action—that's the force between electric charges. On a small scale, it holds electrons in orbit around an atom's nucleus. On a larger scale, it can make your hair stand on end. The Coulomb force can be either attractive or repulsive depending on whether the charges are opposite or the same.

Now, in the heart of a nuclear fusion reactor, the Coulomb force poses a challenge. The reactor aims to smash together the nuclei of atoms like hydrogen, but these nuclei are positively charged and repel each other due to the Coulomb force. Overcoming this pushy behavior is one of the crucial struggles of achieving fusion.

Nuclear Fusion Process

If you've watched the stars at night and wondered about their glow, you've contemplated the results of nuclear fusion. It's the natural force within stars, including our sun, where it powers the incredible light and heat we feel on Earth. The process involves two light atomic nuclei coming together to form a heavier nucleus. For this high-stakes dance to happen, they need to get really close and personal to each other, which isn't easy because they're all positively charged and naturally want to keep apart.

Thanks to a nuclear fusion reactor's extreme environment, these picky nuclei can overcome their reluctance, fuse, and release a fantastic amount of energy. This reaction is the holy grail for an unlimited clean energy source, as it's the same power that has been lighting up our universe for billions of years.

High Temperature in Reactors

High temperature in nuclear fusion reactors isn't just a feature; it's a necessity. We're talking about cranking up the heat to tens of millions of degrees; it's like creating a small piece of a star on Earth. This extreme heat gives atoms the pep in their step needed to overcome their instinct to repel each other due to the pesky Coulomb force we talked about earlier.

At these stellar temperatures, provided by methods like powerful lasers or magnetic confinement, particles zoom around so fast that they can't help but bump into each other with enough energy to stick together. It's within this hot, bustling reactor core that the gas transforms into plasma and the conditions for nuclear fusion are set. Only with the application of such high temperatures can the reactor mimic the natural nuclear furnace of our sun.