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Atoms and nuclei experience strong electrostatic repulsion forces (between electrons and protons respectively) which increase exponentially as they get closer to one another (the force obeys the ubiquitous "inverse square law"). Therefore, in order to bring nuclei together so that fusion may take place, these strong repulsive forces must be overcome. This can be done through pressure, temperature or, for instance, by accelerating the particles to high speeds and then making them collide (in a particle accelerator).