May 28 2009
Glen Luckman Fission and Fusion
Differences Between Nuclear Fission and Fusion
By Michael L Leigh
Most people think about nuclear fission and fusion and have absolutely no idea what this means. They group all nuclear power into a single category. Well, hopefully this article will change that if I just described you.
Nuclear fission is what is currently in use around the world to create electricity from nuclear sources. It is quite simple to understand if you have a basic grasp of what makes up an atom. A free neutron collides with a Uranium 235 atom resulting in the creation of 3 new free neutrons and Uranium 236. These new neutrons will either be lost randomly, absorbed using a controlling element, or collide with another Uranium 235 continuing the chain reaction. This chain reaction of neutrons colliding with atoms creating more neutrons is how we harness nuclear energy using fission.
Nuclear fusion has only been obtained in laboratory settings and we have never been able to control the reaction although we can produce it. This is the type of energy that powers suns. Two lighter than iron nuclei are brought close enough together to overcome their innate repulsion due to similar charge. When they combine they will release 17.59 MeV of energy and form a new molecule that is heavier than iron while releasing a free neutron. It is this release of energy during the formation of a new molecule that we expect to harness to generate electricity.
Once nuclear fusion has been controlled and perfected it will result in extremely efficient nuclear energy and could be a major solution to the energy crisis we face currently. Scientists however have been saying that the solution is just around the corner for many years now.
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