Question

the joining of two smaller nuclei to form one larger nucleus is called...
select one:
a. alpha decay
b. beta decay
c. nuclear fusion
d. nuclear fission

which of the following statements characterizes nuclear fission?
select one:
a. heavy nuclei heated to extremely high temperatures combine, releasing large amounts of energy.
b. lightweight nuclei combine to form heavier, more stable nuclei.
c. the splitting of a nucleus released a large burst of energy.
d. unstable nuclei combine and become stable when the available energy is converted into matter.

Explanation:

For the first question: Alpha and beta decay are radioactive decay processes where a nucleus emits particles, not joining smaller nuclei. Nuclear fission splits a large nucleus, while fusion joins small nuclei into a larger one.
For the second question: Nuclear fission is defined as the splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into smaller fragments, which releases a large amount of energy. Options a and b describe nuclear fusion, while option d does not match the definition of fission.

Answer:

1. c. nuclear fusion
2. c. The splitting of a nucleus released a large burst of energy.