What are the main advantages of nuclear fission relative to nuclear fusion as an energy source? What are the drawbacks?
Nuclear fission takes place when a large, somewhat unstable isotope(atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons) is bombarded by high-speed particles, usually neutrons. These neutrons are accelerated and then slammed into the unstable isotope causing them to fission or break into smaller particles. During the process, a neutron is accelerated and strikes the target nucleus which is Uranium-235, and splits it into smaller nuclei and releasing a large amount of energy.
Nuclear fusion means a merging of separate elements into a unified one. Nuclear fusion refers to the union of atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei resulting in the release of enormous amounts of energy. Fusion takes place when two low-mass isotopes typically isotopes of hydrogen, unite under conditions of extreme pressure and temperature to form nuclei of helium.
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