Which would release more energy a fusion reaction or a fission reaction?

Fission is when a large nucleus divides into smaller nuclei releasing energy. Certain elements such as Uranium-235 can be made to fission easily. So, the answer is fusion produces more energy if it involves light elements and fission produces more energy if it involves heavy elements.

How would a fusion reactor produce electricity?

Fusion power is a proposed form of power generation that would generate electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions. In a fusion process, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, while releasing energy. Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors.

Does nuclear fusion produce more energy than fission?

Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. This is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of energy—several times greater than fission.

How do fission reactions and fusion reactions differ?

Both fission and fusion are nuclear reactions that produce energy, but the processes are very different. Fission is the splitting of a heavy, unstable nucleus into two lighter nuclei, and fusion is the process where two light nuclei combine together releasing vast amounts of energy.

Why does fusion release more energy then fission?

Fission releases the energy of the electromagnetic force when positively charged parts of the nucleus fly away from one another. Fusion releases the energy of the strong force (much stronger at short distances than the EM force) when the small pieces are captured and held into one nucleus.

How do you extract energy from a fusion reactor?

The basic idea in all three cases is that the energy becomes heat, and is extracted using turbines, just like in a fossil fuel burning power station. On a microscopic level the energy is released in the form of kinetic energy of the helium nucleus and the neutrons that are given off.

Why is fusion a better energy source than fission?

Fusion offers an appealing opportunity, since fusion creates less radioactive material than fission and has a nearly unlimited fuel supply. Fission is the splitting of a heavy, unstable nucleus into two lighter nuclei, and fusion is the process where two light nuclei combine together releasing vast amounts of energy.