How does temperature typically affect the process of nuclear fusion?

In the context of nuclear fusion, temperature plays a crucial role in the reaction rate. High temperatures provide the necessary energy for the nuclei of atoms to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between them, which occurs because they are both positively charged. At elevated temperatures, the kinetic energy of the particles increases, allowing them to collide with sufficient energy to overcome this barrier and fuse together.

As the temperature increases, the speeds at which the particles move also increase, leading to a higher frequency of collisions that have enough energy to result in nuclear fusion. This is why, in conditions like those found in stars, where temperatures reach millions of degrees Kelvin, nuclear fusion can occur efficiently.

In contrast, lower temperatures result in reduced kinetic energy, leading to fewer high-energy collisions, thus decreasing the likelihood of fusion reactions taking place. Therefore, it is clear that an increase in temperature significantly enhances the reaction rate of nuclear fusion.