Fission+&+Fusion

= Fission and Fusion = = ﻿ = =Nucular energy:= Atoms are the building blocks from which matter is formed. Everything around us is made up of atoms. Nuclear energy is contained within the center of the atom in a place known as the [|nucleus]. Particles within the nucleus are held together by a strong force. If a large nucleus is split apart [|(fission)], generous amounts of energy can be liberated. Small nuclei can also be combined [|(fusion)] with an accompanying release of energy. Using this strong force that holds the nucleus together to produce energy is essentially what the field of nuclear power generation is about-

=Fission:= Also called [|nuclear fission.] Physics. the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into nuclei of lighter atoms, accompanied by the release of energy. Compare [|fusion] ( def. 4 ) -Dictonary.com Fission is a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus splits, or fissions, into fragments, usually two fragments of comparable mass, with the release of large amounts of energy in the form of heat and radiation. In the UWNR, [|Uranium-235] is the fuel and it is struck by a moving neutron, which combines with the U-235 to become [|U-236]. Because of the mass and energy imparted to the nucleus by the neutron, the nucleus has enough energy to fission and breaks down into two (or more) smaller nuclei and two or three new neutrons which together have less mass than the original U-236 nucleus. This missing mass, sometimes known as the mass defect, is changed into energy-Information here

= Advantages of fission energy:  = 1. A lot of heat energy is produced relative to the mass of Uranium. This then makes it extremely profitable since the ratio of energy to mass is very large 2.Nuclear Fission is extremely economically viable once the nuclear plant has been set up-which is expensive. However the initial loss is soon replaced by large gains since the profit margins are very high 3.It is the cheapest and most clean way of producing electricity, since no greenhouse gases are produced.

= Disadvantages of fission energy: = 1.A lot of radioactive waste is produced, which needs to be disposed of. This is a very expensive process and the Uranium will stay active for hundreds for thousands of years. This can have a devastating effect on the environment. 2.If a chain reaction goes out of control the nuclear plant can melt down. This will lead to killing and mutating any living species for hundreds of miles around. If this happened the entire area would stay infected for hundreds of thousands of years if left untreated. 3.There is a risk of nuclear rods being stolen for terrorist activity.

=Fusion:= Also called [|nuclear fusion.] Physics. a thermonuclear reaction in which nuclei of light atoms join to form nuclei of heavier atoms, as the combination of deuterium atoms to form helium atoms. Compare [|fission] ( def. 2 ) -Dictonary.com Energy can also be produced by combining light nuclei in a process is called nuclear fusion. As an energy source, fusion has several advantages over fission: the light nuclei are plentiful and easy to obtain, and the end products of fusion are usually light, stable nuclei rather than heavy radioactive ones. There is one considerable disadvantage: before light nuclei can be combined however, their mutual repulsion must be overcome due to the fact that the positively charged [|protons] of the nuclei repulse each other. Because of this problem, fusion [|reactors] are not yet producing electrical power. This is an area of great research interest in the field of nuclear engineering and physics. We at the UWNR do not perform fusion experiments, but if you would like some more information on the fusion projects, [|click here.] (not part of tour)-Information here

= Advanteges of fusion energy: = 1.There is a lot more energy released during fusion than fission so would be more profitable once set up. 2.Fusion could power the entire world at a very low cost compared with power sources today. Fusion would not be depleted like non-renewable sources today since it would be possible to make hydrogen nuclei manually as it is a very simple element (requires only 1 proton and 1 neutron). 3.Hardly any waste produced compared to Nuclear Fusion, so no money wasted in disposing Nuclear waste.

= Disadvantages of fusion energy: = 1.Fusion will only occur at temperatures of 10-15 million Kelvin (K), hence there is no point of producing energy since it is not profitable. 2. Even if fusion did take place, it would be far ahead of it’s time since no material exists which can cope with temperatures of 10-15 million K  3.At the moment the only profitable way for fusion to occur is using cold fusion*, but this has not yet been discovered. (*cold fusion is fusion at low enough temperatures to make profits because this would mean that the output energy would be greater than input energy ).

Fission and Fusion is a important part in making atomic bomb. Fission contains ALOT of energy. "There is onlt a very tiny bit of matter that contains a VERY much energy"-Einstein Nucular fission requires a reactor and if it is not safely made it could cause a nucular explosion.

(SO BE CAREFUL) When scientist are working with bombs, they have to be careful beacuse if they mess up it could (EXPLODE)

= = = By Nicholas and Steven  ﻿ =