Fusion and FissionWhat’s all the confusion?

What’s the difference?

• Free Physics Clip Art by Phillip Martin, Fusion and Fission• physics.phillipmartin.info648 × 394Search by image

Something happens in each.

Nuclear Binding Energywww.mwit.ac.th512 × 334Search by image

Very different processes

In life forms, cells do both.

Cells join together in fusion. Two cells come together, making one new cell. This happens in reproduction.

They also split apart, in fission, making two cells where once there was only one. This happens in growth.

Emerging functions of mammalian mitochondrial fusion and fissionhmg.oxfordjournals.org1280 × 743Search by image

Fusion

• www.publicdomainpictures.net

FUSIONfu•sionnoun, often attributive \ˈfyü-zhən\a: physics : a process in which the nuclei of atoms are joinedb: the union of atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei resulting in the release of enormous quantities of energy when certain light elements unite

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Fusion• Fusion is the joining of two

light nuclei to produce a heavier one. Mass is lost and a tremendous amount of energy is released (even more than the energy released in nuclear fission). Solar energy is a form of fusion energy. When two isotopes of hydrogen combine at very high temperatures, fusion occurs. A diagram of nuclear fusion is shown at left.

• atropos.as.arizona.edu866 × 463Search by image

Solar energy is from fusion.

• http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/11jul_darkfireworks/

• http://atropos.as.arizona.edu/aiz/teaching/a250/pp.html

• Nuclear Fission and Fusion• ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu400 × 300Search by image

Fissionfis•sionnoun \ˈfi-shən, -zhən\ a: physics : a process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom is split apartb : the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of energy—called also nuclear fission

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FissionIsotopes of elements having atomic numbers greater than 80 are capable of undergoing fission. In nuclear fission, the atom splits generating enormous amounts of energy. When uranium -235 absorbs a neutron, fission occurs as it breaks apart to produce two smaller nuclei, several neutrons and a great amount of energy. A chain reaction is produced as fission continues and the neutrons emitted bombard more uranium-235 nuclei. So much energy is released that an atomic explosion occurs. Nuclear power plants operate under this principle. A diagram of uranium-235 undergoing nuclear fission is shown here.

Fission: Chain reaction

A chain reaction is produced as fission continues and the neutrons emitted bombard more uranium-235 nuclei. So much energy is released that an atomic explosion occurs. Nuclear power plants operate under this principle. A diagram of uranium-235 undergoing nuclear fission is shown here.

www.mdc.edu500 × 403Search by image

Nuclear FissionNuclear Reactions in the Sunatropos.as.arizona.edu866 × 463Search by image

And that’s it!

Produced for NCVPS Earth and Environmental Science

Kella Randolph M. Ed.