NUCLEAR FISSION
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NUCLEAR FUSION
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Definition:
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Fission is the splitting of a large atom into two or more smaller ones
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Fusion is the fusing of two or more lighter atoms into a larger one
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Conditions:
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Critical mass of the substance and high-speed neutrons are required
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High density, high temperature environment is required
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Energy Requirement:
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Takes little energy to split two atoms in a fission reaction
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Extremely high energy is required to bring two or more protons close enough that nuclear forces overcome their electrostatic repulsion
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Natural Occurrence of the Process:
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Fission reaction does not normally occur in nature
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Fusion occurs in stars, such as the sun
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By Products of the Reaction:
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Fission produces many highly radioactive particles
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Few radioactive particles are produced by a fusion reaction, but if a fission “trigger” is used, radioactive particles will result from that
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Energy Ratios:
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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
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The energy released by fusion is three to four times greater than the energy released by fission
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Nuclear Weapon:
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One class of nuclear weapon is a fission bomb, also known as an atomic bomb or atom bomb
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One class of nuclear weapon is the hydrogen bomb, which uses a fission reaction to “trigger” a fusion reaction
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http://www.diffen.com/difference/Nuclear_Fission_vs_Nuclear_Fusion
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