nuclear fission/fusion

fission

the process where a heavy/unstable atom splits into two or more lighter nuclei

weight difference in fission

the product of the two nuclei weighs less than the original nucleus because fission takes up some of the energy, making the two nuclei lighter than it originally was

• mass = energy

chain reaction

when an event of fission produces more events of fission, and so on

• this is how nuclear bombs are created

fusion

when a small, light nucleus fuses with another small, light nucleus

where does fusion occur and why?

it occurs in places of high temperatures because it fuels a powerful nuclear reaction

• ex: stars, sun

mass defect

the difference in mass between the newly formed nucleus and the mass of the two nucleus that fused together

weight difference in fusion

the weight of the separated parts of the nucleus is heavier than the nucleus as a whole