Quote:
Originally Posted by gary
Hi Alex,
In order to fuse the nuclei, you have to overcome the repulsive force
of the protons. Lighter elements can be more readily fused because there is less
protons and therefore less electrostatic repulsive force. It transpires
for these lighter elements when you fuse them you get an net energy gain.
That is, the energy it produces once you manage to fuse them is greater
than the amount of energy you had to put into getting them to fuse.
Once you get to iron it takes more energy to fuse them than you get out.
Best example is stars.
Tried and tested here on Earth in the form of thermonuclear bombs.
Bikini isn't just famous for skimpy two-piece beachwear.
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Thank you Gary you have understood what I was trying to identify and now that you have explained it I really do not know why I could not have worked that out for myself as it is so obvious... right under my nose yet I did not jerry.
The stars yes which made me hesitant to even ask if they could be mistaken because if they were a new explanation for the Suns energy production would have been needed...I think I was really just trying to find out why the difference between light and heavy elements...
And again the existence of the hydrogen bomb and where it gets its extra clout would need a different explanation..
I expect very few people think of Bikini Atol but a lot think about the swim wear.
Thinking casually about the prospect of creating a fusion power plant it occurred to me that the thing missing, that is plentiful on the Sun is gravity.
To replicate that energy (required for containment) I expect that is where the magnets come in...and so to power those magnets I expect the Sun does not have that issue as it has 'free' gravity...sorry about my clumsy explanation...do you see what I am trying to "say"?
Alex