![]() ![]() If you think you can’t relate to nuclear fission applications in daily life. ![]() In fact, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, about 10% of the global electricity is produced via controlled nuclear fission power plants.Īpplications of Nuclear Fission in Everyday Life Credit: Wikimedia CommonsĮlectricity produced in the nuclear power plant would be the perfect example of the controlled chain reaction where energy is slowly harnessed either by splitting uranium or plutonium atoms. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) Units 1 and 2 at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. For example, when a uranium-235 is bombarded with a neutron, it splits into two smaller nuclei releasing a large amount of energy with a number of newly created neutrons which further collides with another uranium atom and splits it into two. Nuclear fission works sustainably due to the occurrence of multiple chain reactions during the splitting of atoms. Must Read: Top 6 Sources of Mechanical Energy You Should Know But, there will be an issue i.e the energy generated by splitting the hydrogen atoms would be endothermic in nature. Well, no doubt, lighter elements like hydrogen are also fissionable. In fact, these newly created neutrons are also responsible for the formation of multiple nuclear fission reactions.Īdditionally, for the fission reaction to be exothermic in nature, the element in use should be the heaviest such as Uranium. Not to mention, apart from producing an enormous amount of energy, nuclear fission also produces a large number of highly radioactive bi-products and neutrons. See the above image for proper understanding. To put it differently, this is a process in which a heavier nucleus of an atom (say plutonium) breaks into two lighter nuclei. The process of splitting atoms by bombarding them with neutrons to harness energy is known as nuclear fission. However, let us try to understand both of them in a detailed format. Sadly, a nuclear reactor that could sustain a nuclear fusion reaction is still in its development phase.įrom the above-given difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion in tabular form, you got the exact overview of these two. Stars like the Sun shines due to the process of nuclear fusion.įor the fission reaction to be exothermic in nature, the element in use should be the heaviest such as Uranium.įor the fusion reaction to be exothermic in nature, the element in use should be the lightest such as hydrogen or its isotopes.Ītomic bomb or simply nuclear bomb would be the perfect example of the uncontrolled chain reaction of nuclear fission.Ī thermonuclear bomb or simply a hydrogen bomb would be the perfect example of the uncontrolled chain reaction in nuclear fusion.Įlectricity generated in the nuclear power plant would be the perfect example of the controlled chain reaction of nuclear fission. There is no natural process that occurs due to nuclear fission reactions. On the contrary, this process requires very high temperature and high-pressure density to fuse atoms. This process does not require high temperature and high-pressure density to split atoms. The energy that we harness from nuclear fusion is very high as compared to nuclear fission.Īll bi-products of the fission reaction are highly radioactive in nature.Īll bi-products of the fusion reaction are very less radioactive in nature. The energy that we harness from nuclear fission is very low as compared to nuclear fusion. Requires a very large amount of energy to merge or fuse atoms. Requires a very little amount of energy to split atoms. Merger of smaller nuclei to form a larger nucleus. Splitting of a larger nucleus to form smaller nuclei. But, before going into the deep discussion, let me give you a brief review of the two in a tabular form. As a matter of fact, in this exclusive article, I am going to get you through each and every detail regarding these two. On the other hand, nuclear fusion is a process during which lighter elements fuse together to form heavier elements. So, what is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion? The primary difference between fission and fusion is that nuclear fission is a process during which a heavier nucleus of an atom (say plutonium) breaks into two lighter nuclei. Just because of the demand for the topic, we are only interested in these two. These are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions. Not to mention, there are two ways to harness nuclear energy from the nucleus of an atom. Out of all, today, we are only interested in the form of energy that we harness from the nucleus of an atom i.e Nuclear energy. There are so many forms of energy that exist in nature.
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