What is nuclear fission and fusion?

Answer 1

Nuclear fusion is the joining up of two smaller nuclei into one larger, in our sun it is the fusion of hydrogen which produces helium, and releases energy. Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of uranium which releases energy, as in a nuclear reactor.

Answer 2

In fission atomic nuclei are bombarded with other protons causing the nuclei of large unstable atoms to break apart, releasing more protons, and creating smaller elemental atoms from the original. Splitting the atom.
In fusion atomic nuclei are combined together under pressure and heat great enough to overcome the resistance of the electron shells, collapsing two atoms into one larger atom. Fusing the atom.

Both release great amounts of heat, gamma radiation and energy.

Answer 3

Nuclear Fusion is when light atoms like hydrogen and helium fuse. Nuclear Fission is when heavier, radioactive, and unstable atoms like uranium spit into two smaller atoms. Both reactions release a tremendous amount of energy, but Nuclear Fusion releases more energy than Nuclear Fission, per mass. In fact, the only reaction that releases more energy for its mass is antimatter and matter combining.

Answer 4

Nuclear fission is the splitting (hence the term fission) of a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei. Typically involved is uranium-235 or plutonium-239.

Nuclear fusion is the combining (hence the term fusion) of two light nuclei into one larger nucleus. Typically involved is hydrogen-2 (deuterium) or hydrogen-3 (tritium).

In both cases, the reaction causes a slight reduction in the amount of residual binding energy that is required to hold the resulting components together. This excess energy is released, usually as heat.

Answer 5

Nuclear fission is a process, in which a heavy nucleus is broken down into two or more medium heavy fragments. Nuclear fusion is a process, which involves fusion of two or more lighter nuclei to give a heavier nuclei.

Answer 6

Fission: Splitting large atoms into smaller atoms.

Fusion: Combining small atoms into larger atoms.