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Why does a fission reaction occur more readily than a fusion reaction?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Fission reactions are sustained by normal decay of radioactive material. All you need is a sufficient quantity of it in a small enough space and you can have a controlled or uncontrolled reaction. Fusion requires the collision of atoms at very high energies, something that is not easily done. That requires a particle accelerator or the blast from a fission reaction to achieve.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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Where does the reaction occur in nuclear fission?
Nuclear energy
For a chain reaction occur each fission must produce at least ____more fission reaction?
its 1 i think
Can fision occur in a star?
Not typically. When a star burns it starts with fusion of Hydrogen. Later heavier atoms are formed, also by fusion. It is believed that the very heavy atoms, that release energy when split (fission) are only formed by very massive stars . These atoms are also formed by fusion. When one of these very massive stars explodes (super nova) it spews out its atoms and during this process its possible some fission will occur, but for the most part star evolution is a fusion story.
Is nuclear fusion used as an energy source in power plants?
Nuclear power plants use controlled atomic fission to generate electricity. Atoms of the fissile material are split and part of their mass is converted to energy in addition to neutrons being ejected from the nucleus. These neutrons impact other atoms within the fissile material which then release further energy and more neutrons. The reaction is controlled by absorbing most freed neutrons with material so an uncontrolled chain reaction doesn't occur like the atom bomb used in WWII. The energy released produces heat (and radiation) which heats liquid into steam turning turbines connected to electric generators to make electricity. The highly radioactive spent fuel is a dangerous waste product that must be warehoused for many lifetimes. Conversely, the simplest type of nuclear fusion, which may become a reality this century, converts hydrogen atoms into helium atoms and produces no radioactive waste products.
Does fusion occur only under extremely high temperatures?
Nuclear fusion of light elements is the process operating in the stars to produce energy, and needs very high temperature to occur. Experiments on earth to aim at producing useful power from fusion have been progressing for many years. The reactants most likely to be used are isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. These need to be heated to some hundreds of millions of degrees kelvin before reaction starts. Fusion reactions have been seen, but only for less than 1 second so far. Fusion is not a chemical reaction, it is a nuclear process.
Does fusion reaction occur in an atomic bomb?
They have a starter in a bomb and what this will do is shoot a neutron in the nuclear fuel starting a chain reaction
What is sun fission?
Fission does not occur in the sun, it is fusion which produces the sun's energy
When does fission occur in a star?
Never, only fusion
Where does the reaction occur in nuclear fission?
Nuclear energy
How does a nuclear disaster occur?
A nuclear disaster may occur when the radioactive materials are mishandled and which may lead to radioactive exposure or a chain reaction of nuclear fission, fusion. Most of these disasters are induced by the man made mistakes.
It takes an extremely high temperature for nuclear to occur inside the sun?
Not nuclear, it takes an extremely hight temperature for Fusion to occur with in the sun or any other star. ADDED: Yes "nuclear". Fusion is one of the two type of nuclear reaction, the other being Fission.
Where does the fusion reaction occur in the sun?
Fusion occurs in the core of the sun and other stars.
Where in space do fission and fusion happen?
Strictly speaking nowhere in space, because space has no matter in it. Fusion happens in the stars. Fission may occur in some planets somewhere in the universe but not in our solar system
For a chain reaction occur each fission must produce at least ____more fission reaction?
its 1 i think
Can fision occur in a star?
Not typically. When a star burns it starts with fusion of Hydrogen. Later heavier atoms are formed, also by fusion. It is believed that the very heavy atoms, that release energy when split (fission) are only formed by very massive stars . These atoms are also formed by fusion. When one of these very massive stars explodes (super nova) it spews out its atoms and during this process its possible some fission will occur, but for the most part star evolution is a fusion story.
Is nuclear fission happening on the sun or nuclear fusion?
Fusion. Fusion requires very high temperature and pressure. So on earth we usea critical mass of weapons grade uranium to start a fission chain reaction whichenables a fusion reaction in hydrogen. Fusion is of course more powerful than fission
Do fusion reactions provide nuclear power?
No, a fission reaction is not necessary to trigger a fusion reaction, but for us on earth, it is. In the field of nuclear weapons, a fission bomb is needed to create the heat necessary to set off a fusion weapon. We have to use fission, or, rather, the energy created by that, to initiate the fusion reaction. It might be possible to use a high power source, like a laser, on a small amount of material to get fusion to occur. But we are still experimenting with this in the Tokamak, and it's far from being a done deal. Stars are, in general, massive nuclear fusion reactors. Their constant consumption of fuel powering their high rate of fusion creates a massive amount of energy, and the stars' huge gravity keeps this process from blowing the whole thing apart. No fission is needed to sustain this reaction.
