Why nuclear fission is often easier to initate than nuclear fusion?

Answer 1

Because fission only requires that a fissile material (like U235 or Pu239) be struck by a particle to break, when it breaks, its broken pieces will go and break other particles and it will continue all on its own.

Fusion requires extremely high pressure and temperature to maintain, in order to force atoms together. When the material suddenly begins fusion, there is a massive release of energy which causes a large, sudden increase of pressure that the reactor needs to be able to hold without letting the reaction run away (since the sudden increase in pressure can cause a sudden increase in material fusion).

But the simple answer is, there are no conditions on Earth that allow for fusion, so we have to make them to force it. With fission, it can occur naturally and we just have to put it together and let it do its thing.

Answer 2

Nuclear fission involves splitting heavy atoms, like uranium, which releases energy. This process is easier to initiate because it requires less extreme conditions, such as lower temperatures and pressures, compared to nuclear fusion. Fusion involves merging light atoms, like hydrogen isotopes, which requires much higher temperatures and pressures to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged nuclei.

Answer 3

Because it can be made to work easily, fusion has not been made a practical technology as yet, but it may be in the future.