Download Notes: Nuclear Fusion Basics

10/25/16
NUCLEAR FUSION
BASICS
Objective: I will analyze the structure of an
atom as a basis for studying nuclear fusion in
stars.
PAGE 29
Atomic Structure
• atom- basic building block of matter
• made up of subatomic particles:
• proton (+), neutron (o), and electron (-)
Atomic Structure
• protons and neutrons clump together to form
the nucleus
• electrons orbit the nucleus
Important to Know
• the number of protons in the nucleus identifies
the element
Important to Know
• isotope: atom of an element that exists with a
different number of neutrons
Important to Know
• If you change the number of
neutrons, you create an isotope of
the same element
Nuclear Fusion in Stars
• stars are made up of mostly hydrogen (~75%
in our Sun)
• in the core of a star, temperatures reach
15,000,000oC
• this causes the hydrogen atoms to move VERY fast
• so fast, they collide together and fuse into a
new element, helium
Nuclear Fusion in Stars
• this process is called nuclear fusion
• combining nuclei of small atoms to form bigger
nuclei
• releases huge amounts of energy
Atomic Number = # of protons
Element Symbol
Atomic Mass = # of protons + neutrons
*weighted average of all isotopes
# of electrons = # of protons
Left Side Activity
• Sketch the Periodic Table panel for:
• Helium
• One other element, with an atomic number
of less than 26 (Iron- Fe)
• Label each sketch with the number of protons,
neutrons, and electrons in an atom of that
element.
• Remember to include color and a title!