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What is the source of energy in fusion and fission?
Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to keep the protons and neutrons of a nucleus intact, and the energy that is released during a nuclear fission or fusion is nuclear power.
What is the source of energy for fusion?
the Sun
Nuclear Fusion reactions power the Sun and other stars. In a fusion reaction, two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus. The process releases energy because the total mass of the resulting single nucleus is less than the mass of the two original nuclei. The leftover mass becomes energy.
Where do fission and fusion occur?
Fission reaction does not normally occur in nature. Fusion occurs in stars, such as the sun. Byproducts of the reaction: Fission produces many highly radioactive particles.
What is the process of nuclear fission?
Fission is the splitting of heavy nuclei (such as uranium) – in two smaller nuclei. This process needs less energy to ‘bind’ them together – so energy is released. Fission happens quite easily – and is used to generate electricity in conventional nuclear power stations.
What is the difference between fission and fusion?
Fission and fusion are both natural atomic processes that release incredible amounts of energy, but in many ways, they are opposites. Fission involves the splitting of a single, generally heavy, atomic nucleus, whereas fusion requires the combining of two or more light atoms . Atoms include protons and neutrons bound together in a central nucleus.
What is the source of energy for nuclear energy?
That’s mostly been accomplished throughout history by burning carbon-based material like wood, coal and gas—or by harnessing power from the sun, wind, and water. Fission and fusion are two physical processes that produce massive amounts of energy from atoms. They yield millions of times more energy than other sources through nuclear reactions.
Which element is most commonly used for fission reactions?
Uranium and plutonium are most commonly used for fission reactions in nuclear power reactors because they are easy to initiate and control. The energy released by fission in these reactors heats water into steam.