1. Nuclear Fusion and Fission
The Comparision

2. Fusion vs Fission Venn Diagram
You will work with your table partner and create a Venn Diagram of Fusion vs Fission
Each person will make a copy for their notebooks
You will need 4 items in each section
You will have 20 min to complete

3. DO YOU KNOW QS? Take notes.
Which of the naturally occurring elements is used in nuclear fission?
Why is nuclear fusion dangerous?
Which nuclear reaction does the sun produce?

4. ANSWERS
1. Uranium-235
2. Cause dangerous
radiation
3. Nuclear fusion

5. The reactor uses Uranium rods as fuel, and the heat is generated by nuclear fission. Neutrons smash into the nucleus of the uranium atoms, which split roughly in half and release energy in the form of heat.

6. TAKE NOTES Fission vs Fusion (sun)
Fission- splitting of atomic nuclei. Tons of energy produced from a small mass
Fusion- combining atomic nuclei. Requires high temp, stars, SUN -do this.

7. Fission splits an atoms nucleus
Definition: a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus is split into two smaller parts producing energy..
CONTROLLED:
EX: Nuclear Power Plant
UNCONTROLLED:
In reactor = meltdown!
Ex: Atomic bomb!

8. Fusion
Definition: a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei of two atoms fuse or COMBINE to form a larger nucleus. This give off Energy.. Form of heat.
Called a thermonuclear reaction –
occurs only at very high temps
lowest temperature required for fusion: 40,000,000 K
EX: occurs constantly in SUN or Stars Creates the radiant energy of the sun

9. Fusion vs Fission Combining (Fuse) Splits Atoms Atoms
Create Larger
Hydrogen Atoms
Used
Happens on the
Sun and Stars
High Temperature
Needed to work
4x more Energy
Produced
Produces Radiant
Energy
Splits Atoms
Create Smaller Atoms
Neutrons hit and cause the split
Uses Uranium in a reactor
Creates Radioactive Waste
Does not occur naturally in nature
Atoms
Energy
Can Produce Electricity
Bombs

10. Definition
Fission is the splitting of a large atom into two or more smaller ones.
Fusion is the fusing of two or more lighter atoms into a larger one.
Fusion demo

11. Natural Processes Fission reaction does not normally occur in nature.
Fusion occurs in stars, such as the sun.

12. Byproducts of the reaction
Fission produces many highly radioactive particles.
Few radioactive particles are produced by fusion reaction, but if a fission "trigger" is used, radioactive particles will result from that.

13. Conditions
Critical mass of the substance and high-speed neutrons are required for fission. (Think “enriched” uranium)
High density, high temperature environment is required for fussion.

14. Energy Requirements
Takes little energy to split two atoms in a fission reaction.
Extremely high energy is required to bring two or more protons close enough that nuclear forces overcome their electrostatic repulsion.

15. Energy Released
The energy released by fission is a million times greater than that released in chemical reactions; but lower than the energy released by nuclear fusion.
The energy released by fusion is three to four times greater than the energy released by fission.

16. Nuclear Weapons
One class of nuclear weapon is a fission bomb, also known as an atomic bomb or atom bomb.
One class of nuclear weapon is the hydrogen bomb, which uses a fission reaction to "trigger" a fusion reaction.

17. Fusion remains a dream
Tremendous energy is released when deuterium and tritium are fused to form helium
Nuclear fusion = forces together small nuclei of lightweight elements under extremely high temperature and pressure
Drives the sun’s output of energy and hydrogen (thermonuclear) bombs
If we could control fusion, we could produce vast amounts of energy from water