difference between nuclear fission and fusion

Both the reaction are used for energy production. The nuclear fusion is the process defined as the reaction where lighter atoms come together and form a heavy nucleus. The nuclear fission is the process in which heavy nucleus is broken into tiny nuclei. The nuclear fusion and nuclear fission are the reactions which release energy in the presence of high power atomic bonds between particles and nucleus. It is also used in different experimental devices for the production of energy.Difference between Nuclear fusion and Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion was achieved in the reaction of hydrogen bomb first time. Fission releases energy when atoms are split, while fusion releases energy when atoms are joined The fusion reaction releases more energy than fission Fusion doesn’t produce harmful long-term radioactive waste as a by-product like fission does Fusion needs more energy to accomplish than fission does. But it is tough to control reaction in a confined space, so this is a big challenge in its use. Scientists believe that fusion reaction produces less radioactive materials than fission reaction so has unlimited fuel supply which can be used for different opportunities. Researchers continue to work on controlling nuclear fission to make a fusion reactor to produce electricity. Besides this, an enormous amount of energy is released which is much greater than the energy of fission reaction. Atoms of Tritium and Deuterium combines under high temperature and pressure to produce a neutron and helium isotope. What is Nuclear Fusion?įusion occurs when two low mass isotopes (mostly isotopes of hydrogen) combines under extreme temperature and pressure. Safeguards must be used with nuclear fission reactors for this waste and its transportation for storage. Radioactive wastes are generated as a byproduct of fission reaction whose results take thousands of years to lose their dangerous level. High-speed electrons become projectiles that initiate other fission reactions which are called chain reactions. Produced energy is used to heat water in nuclear reactors and generate electricity. It splits the target nucleus and breaks it down into small isotopes, three high-speed neutrons and a large amount of energy. During fission process, a neutron is accelerated and hits the target nucleus, which in the majority of a nuclear power reactor is Uranium. Neutrons are accelerated and slammed into isotopes which cause fission, break into small particles. Nuclear fission takes place when high-speed particles, neutrons are bombarded on the unstable isotope. Nuclear fission was discovered by German scientists, Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. He started experiments in 1939, and after one year Enrico Fermi built a nuclear reactor. The combination of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei, the hydrogen bomb.Īlbert Einstein’s prediction that mass could be changed into energy made possible of nucleus division. Nuclear fusion is not utilized to produce energy because it cannot be controlled.

Nuclear fission is used in nuclear reactors because it can be controlled. Fission reactions (in which big atoms of enriched uranium are broken apart) yield radioactive waste including plutonium and dangerous actinides that can be weaponized. It is carried out by heating small nuclei at high temperature. It is occurred by bombarding the heavy nucleus with neutrons. Very high temperature is required to start nuclear fusion. The high temperature is not required to initiate nuclear fission. Splitting of a large atom into two or more small atoms is called nuclear fission.įusion of two or more small atoms into one large atom is called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion does not take place It happens in stars. For example, spontaneous fission of uranium happens only when enough amount of uranium is present. Nuclear fission occurs naturally on earth.

Difference between nuclear fission and fusion