Nuclear fusion

• What is nuclear fusion?

  Joining two lighter nuclei to form a larger nucleus
• What happens when two hydrogen nuclei fuse together?

  They form helium-3 and release energy
• Why does fusion release large amounts of energy?

  Mass of original nuclei converts to energy
• What is the relationship between mass and energy in fusion?

  Mass is converted to energy according to $E=$$mc^2$
• What does $E=$$mc^2$ represent in nuclear fusion?


  Energy equals mass lost times speed of light squared
• What is the approximate value of the speed of light squared?

  About $9 \times 10^{16}$
• What is a significant advantage of nuclear fusion?

  It doesn't produce radioactive waste
• What is necessary for nuclear fusion to occur?

  High temperatures and pressures, around 10 million degrees Celsius
• Why can't we currently perform nuclear fusion on Earth?

  It requires extremely high temperatures and pressures
• What is the difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?

  Fusion fuses light nuclei; fission splits heavy nuclei
• Which process is used on Earth to generate electricity?

  Nuclear fission
• What are the key characteristics of nuclear fusion?

  • Fuses light nuclei to form heavier nuclei
  • Releases large amounts of energy
  • Occurs at high temperatures and pressures
  • Does not produce radioactive waste
• What are the key characteristics of nuclear fission?

  • Splits large unstable nuclei into smaller nuclei
  • Produces energy, but less than fusion
  • Used on Earth for electricity generation