Two deuterium nuclei are required to approach each other to a centre-to-centre…

PHYSICS · Subjective · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Electric Force Field and Potential · Electric Force Field and Potential

Problem

Two deuterium nuclei are required to approach each other to a centre-to-centre separation of

2.0\,\text{fm}

for fusion to occur. Take

e = 1.6\times10^{-19}\,\text{C}

k_e = 9.0\times10^{9}\,\text{N m}^2\text{/C}^2

and

k_B = 1.38\times10^{-23}\,\text{J K}^{-1}

. Estimate the minimum temperature (in kelvin) that the deuterium gas must reach so that the average thermal energy per nucleus is comparable to the electrostatic energy at this separation.

Related theory

Kinetic Theory of Gases
Coulomb's Law
Electric Force
Coulomb's law and superposition of forces
Electric Charges and Fields

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