Nuclear fusion and fission

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom, such as uranium or plutonium, divides or ‘splits’ into two smaller, more stable nuclei.
This splitting occurs when the nucleus of the atom absorbs a neutron, making it unstable and causing it to fission.
The process releases a large amount of energy, in addition to two or three new neutrons.
These additional neutrons can then trigger further fissions, creating a chain reaction.
Control rods in a nuclear reactor absorb spare neutrons to control the rate of the reaction and prevent a runaway chain reaction.
Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.
This process generates energy efficiently from small quantities of fuel, but is associated with serious environmental risks such as the generation of radioactive waste.

Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.
This is the same process that powers the sun and other stars.
Unlike nuclear fission, nuclear fusion does not involve the production of harmful radioactive waste, making it a potentially more sustainable and less polluting energy source.
However, nuclear fusion currently requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, and is not yet a viable technology for practical energy production.
Research into controlled nuclear fusion is ongoing, with the aim of developing a safe, efficient, and sustainable form of energy generation.

Fission vs. Fusion

Both fission and fusion are nuclear reactions that generate energy, but they have contrasting properties and impacts.
Fission involves splitting a large, heavy nucleus, while fusion involves combining lighter nuclei.
Fission produces radioactive waste, whereas fusion does not.
Fusion has the potential to generate larger amounts of energy than Fission, but it currently faces more technical challenges for controlled use in power plants.