Notes

fission and fusion:

**Nuclear Fission**
- Definition: Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.
- Advantages:
- Nuclear fission can provide cheap energy resources for the planet.
- Nuclear fission is a reliable source of energy that can produce electricity.
- Nuclear fission does not release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Disadvantages:
- Nuclear fission produces radioactive waste that must be stored properly to keep people safe.
- Nuclear fission can be dangerous if not handled properly. Accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown the dangers of nuclear power.

**Nuclear Fusion**
- Definition: Nuclear fusion is a process in which two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.
- Advantages:
- Nuclear fusion doesn’t create harmful waste. Nuclear fission creates nuclear waste that must be stored properly to keep people safe. This shouldn’t be confused with nuclear fusion, which only has the creation of helium as a byproduct.
- Fusion offers an appealing opportunity, since fusion creates less radioactive material than fission and has a nearly unlimited fuel supply.
- Disadvantages:
- Nuclear fusion requires very high temperatures and pressures to initiate the reaction. This requires a lot of energy and is difficult to achieve. The temperature required for nuclear fusion is around **100 million degrees Celsius** .
- The technology for nuclear fusion is still in the experimental stage and has not yet been developed for commercial use.
- Nuclear fusion research is expensive and requires significant investment.