The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Fusion And Nuclear Fission

Nuclear energy is defined as energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion (“Dictionary”). Nuclear fission is defined as a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy. The definition of nuclear fission is as reaction in which two nuclei combine to form a nucleus with the release of energy (“Dictionary”). The process of nuclear fission and fusion happen inside of a nuclear reactor that is located in a nuclear power plant. Also needing to be defined, a nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear fission initiates a controlled chain reaction, producing heat energy typically used for power generation, and neutrons and fission products (“Dictionary”). It is also important to know that there are a few different kinds of nuclear reactors. The different kind of reactors include: pressurized water reactors, boiling water reactors, gas-cooled reactors, and light water graphite reactors (Blau 117). Finally, a nuclear power plant is a facility for the production of electricity using

     To understand fusion, it is a good idea to know about fission. This is the splitting of the nuclei of atoms into two or more smaller nuclei by bombarding them with neutrons of low energy. It was discovered in the 1930's in an attempt to make transuranium elements (elements with atomic numbers greater than Uranium that do not exist in nature). They

Plutonium or uranium these can sustain a chain reaction are sometimes used as fuel reactors (nuclear) it’s because their atoms are highly reactive and that means it can split large nuclei it really easy when they are hit by protons

Nuclear fusion is a form of nuclear reaction which occurs when two or more atomic nuclei collide at a very high speed and as a result, join to form a new type of atomic nucleus. During this process, matter is not conserved because some of the mass of the fusing nuclei is converted into energy. Fusion is currently the process that powers active stars.

All power plants use fission and to make heat that will be used to make power. Fusion is the two atoms hydrogen and helium which make a heavier atom. This reactor can make more energy and will also not make waste like the fission reactors. Fusion reactors even though not existent are still a highly popular idea

The prospect of nuclear fusion is presented by numerous, I included, to be the ultimate answer to the human race’s energy crisis. The very idea of nearly infinite energy with no long-term waste product, especially one that causes harm, will spark a major turning point in human civilization. Nonetheless, even though we can see nuclear fusion in action throughout the universe in the cores of stars and in our miniature mechanical versions of these, we still have yet to break even on the energy front. Some people, when faced with this ongoing problem for the technology, suggest other forms of power generation that we know already work. Hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and wind power all show promise as sources of massive power generation. Yet

Nuclear power is achieved through fission; the splitting of an atom. Usually, the atom is uranium, the ninety-second element on the periodic table. One of the heavier elements, uranium is unstable and produces an extreme amount of energy when split (Reynoldson 5). Other elements like plutonium can also be used, but plutonium is very rare which results in the majority of nuclear

Initially nuclear fission was designed for producing atomic bombs but later it was shifted to produce energy around the world (Nuclear Fission: Discovery and Technological Development). As of April 2015 the United States is the largest producer of nuclear energy in the world, about 30% of the worldwide nuclear generated energy, compared to Africa which represents the smallest user of nuclear energy, 0.5% (Figure 1). In the US, the nuclear energy represents over 19% of the total energy consumed. (Nuclear Power in USA,

These issues combine to place an unfavorable light on the potential of nuclear power. Nuclear fission, however, is not the only source of nuclear power. Nuclear fusion is another method which offers the potential to combat some of the ailments of nuclear fission in addition to providing long lasting power. Nuclear fusion offers several benefits to energy industry. Among the benefits of fusion power is that fusion fuel is readily available, power produced is reliable, has a low environmental impact, does not produce fissile materials, and carries the same terror risk as conventional fossil fuel plants [6]. To understand why some of these benefits are true, an understanding of the science behind nuclear fusion is necessary.To start, nuclear reactions involve the protons and neutrons contained in the nucleus of an atom. This is different from how chemical reactions, like the burning of fossil fuels, involve the electrons of an atom. In nuclear fission reactions, heavier elements are torn apart. The resulting products are more stable than the reactant, and energy is

Even though nuclear fusion and nuclear fission sound alike, they’re very different from each other. Nuclear fusion is when two or more nuclei combine to making a new element with a higher atomic number, and nuclear fission is the act of splitting a large atom into two or more smaller, lighter atoms. Nuclear fission releases heat energy by splitting the atoms, and nuclear fusion makes heat energy by taking smaller atoms and combining them together to make a bigger one. Nuclear fission usually doesn’t occur in nature, and is mostly used in nuclear power plants and stuff like that, while nuclear fusion occurs in nature all the time; such as stars and the sun. Nuclear fusion is basically electricity that we use in our everyday lives. Nuclear

In nuclear fusion, two light nuclei consolidate to create a vast amount of energy, but in nuclear fission, a heavy, unstable nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei (Duke Energy). For example, shown above in the balanced nuclear equation, two hydrogen nuclei combine to create one helium nucleus and in the balanced nuclear fission equation, Li6+n splits into two lighter nuclei, He4+H3.

Today, 30 countries worldwide are operating 438 nuclear reactors to generate energy, 67 new nuclear plants are under construction in 15 countries and 13 countries rely on nuclear energy to supply at least one-quarter of their total electricity. We can find France, Slovakia and Hungary lying on the top list of nuclear energy producing countries and a total of 10.9 % of the world’s energy being generated by these means. This sustains the evidence of a new energetic revolution that is expanding faster than ever before.

The public needs to be educated on nuclear fusion vs fission. The fact that Scientist believe nuclear fusion will make less radioactive waste than the current nuclear fission may public misconception that nuclear energy is all the same.

Nuclear fusion is an atomic reaction where atoms combine to form a bigger atom with less mass. The most common nuclear fusion is when hydrogen nuclei forms helium nuclei. This occurs in stars that are small such as our sun. When there is low amount in nuclear fuel a star then turns into a red giant as its core grows smaller, denser, and hotter. Our sun will eventually turn into a red giant, theoretically vaporizing Earth. Once the core has nothing to fuse but iron, it will immediately begin the final phase. The temperature in the core rises over 100 billion degrees and then the star explodes. After a supernova, all that’s left of the star is a small, dense core called a neutron star. Also after the explosion, a black hole

This is done by bombarding radioactive particles such as Plutonium and Uranium 235 with energy and causing a split. On a basic level it is the conversion of small amounts of mass into massive amounts of energy. Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs, in both instances the radioactive material is bombarded with gamma rays, causing a split of the atom and a massive release of energy. There are two types of induced fission, photo-fission, and particle-induced fission. Photo-fission utilizes gamma rays to bombard a nuclei and cause it to split, particle-induced fission is when a nucleus absorbs a smaller particle such as a proton or neutron (or other) and becomes excited, splitting and releasing energy in the form of free neutrons and gamma rays. The free neutrons created are due to the difference in the nuclei of Barium (141) and Krypton (92) from Uranium 235. When the Uranium splits and the energy is released it can cause a chain reaction with the elements around it and continue producing massive amounts of energy until the Uranium is