Untitled Flashcards Set

Nuclear Fusion

A process where hydrogen isotopes (like deuterium and tritium) combine to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy.

Energy Output of Fusion

Produces 3 times more energy than fission, which is a significant amount of energy.

Control of Fusion Reactions

Fusion reactions are difficult to control and require extremely high temperatures.

Resource Availability for Fusion

Uses abundant hydrogen isotopes rather than rare elements like Uranium or Plutonium.

Environmental Impact of Fusion

Produces little waste and emits no greenhouse gases, making it cleaner than fission.

Fission

The splitting of atomic nuclei, which produces large amounts of energy.

Fission vs. Fusion

Both are nuclear reactions releasing tremendous amounts of energy, but fission splits larger atoms while fusion combines smaller ones.

Fusion Reactors

Reactors that utilize nuclear fusion, producing high energy output but requiring significant energy input.

Efficiency of Fusion

Fusion is more efficient and cleaner than fission, surpassing fossil fuels significantly.

Nuclear Fusion Equation

2H + 3H → 4He + 1n + Energy, showing the fusion of hydrogen isotopes to release energy.

Nuclear Fusion

A process in which hydrogen isotopes, specifically deuterium and tritium, combine under extreme temperatures and pressure to form helium. This reaction releases an immense amount of energy.

Energy Output of Fusion

Fusion produces approximately three times more energy than nuclear fission, making it a highly efficient energy source.

Control of Fusion Reactions

Fusion reactions are challenging to control because they demand extremely high temperatures that are difficult to maintain, often in the range of millions of degrees Celsius.

Resource Availability for Fusion

Fusion primarily utilizes abundant hydrogen isotopes, which are widely available in nature, unlike the rare isotopes like Uranium or Plutonium needed for fission.

Environmental Impact of Fusion

Fusion is a cleaner energy source as it generates minimal waste and does not emit greenhouse gases, making it environmentally attractive compared to fission.

Fission

A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of a heavy atom, such as Uranium or Plutonium, splits into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of a substantial amount of energy and radioactive waste.

Fission vs. Fusion

Both fission and fusion are nuclear reactions that release significant energy, but fission involves splitting larger atomic nuclei while fusion involves combining smaller atomic nuclei.

Fusion Reactors

Reactors designed to facilitate nuclear fusion, capable of producing vast amounts of energy but requiring considerable energy input to initiate and maintain the fusion process.

Efficiency of Fusion

Fusion is recognized as being significantly more efficient and cleaner than fission, resulting in reduced environmental impact and surpassing fossil fuel efficiency.

Nuclear Fusion Equation

The nuclear fusion reaction can be summed up by the equation 2H + 3H → 4He + 1n + Energy, which illustrates how isotopes of hydrogen combine to produce helium and release energy.