Final answer:
The statement that is not true of the process of fusion is that the electrostatic force overcomes the strong nuclear force. For fusion to occur, the strong nuclear force must overcome Coulomb's repulsion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed is regarding the process of nuclear fusion, which involves the merging of two atomic nuclei into a single, heavier nucleus while releasing energy. Regarding the statements provided:
- Two nuclei collide and stick together - This is a basic description of fusion.
- Fusion produces more energy than fission - On a per reaction basis, fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission, making it a powerful potential energy source.
- It takes a lot of energy for two nuclei to get close enough to fuse - Extremely high temperatures are often used to add the necessary kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.
- The electrostatic force overcomes the strong nuclear force - This statement is not true of fusion. In fusion, the nuclei must overcome the electrostatic force so that the strong nuclear force can dominate and bind the nuclei together.
Therefore, the statement that is not true of the fusion process is (D) The electrostatic force overcomes the strong nuclear force. In reality, for fusion to occur, the attractive nuclear force must overcome Coulomb's repulsion.