Nuclear Fusion and Fission The Comparision

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B69RHqAfj8

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?

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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

Natural Processes 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. Few radioactive particles are produced by fusion reaction, but if a fission "trigger" is used, radioactive particles will result from that.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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