Physics: Electrostatic potential energy?
In order for fusion of two nuclei to take place, they have to be brought together to a
separation of about 2 fm.
Show that the electrostatic potential energy of a system consisting of two
deuterium nuclei at a separation of 2 fm is about 1 × 10^-13 J.
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Electric potential energy = kq1q2/r.
In fusion, the temperature has to be brought at a high enough temperature to strip electrons off the surface of the atoms. So the only electric charge you have is the charge of the protons.
Deuterium is a fancy isotope name for hydrogen with two neutrons. Neutrons have no electric charge, so you can ignore those in the calculation of potential energy.