This energy comes from the nucleus, where the strong nuclear forces between sub-atomic particles are converted into energy. Here, a very high amount of energy is released. If the speed of the bombardment is enough, the two lobes can get separated completely, forming two fragments because the nuclear forces are now not enough to hold the lobes together. This lobe formation causes the sub-atomic particles to separate from each other. This causes the formation of a shape with two lobes. When the nucleus captures the accelerated neutron, the spherical shape of the nucleus is deformed. The nucleus of an atom gets a spherical shape due to the presence of nuclear forces between sub-atomic particles (neutrons and protons). The nuclear fission occurs through a special mechanism called binary fission.

This is called “nuclear chain reaction.” Mechanism – Binary Fission The fission produces more neutrons that can induce other isotopes to undergo nuclear fission. The new nucleus is more unstable thus, it undergoes fission reaction. First, the neutron combines with the nucleus of the isotope. These accelerated neutrons cause the isotope to undergo fission. This is a nonspontaneous reaction where a large, unstable isotope is bombarded with high-speed neutrons. This reaction may occur in two ways as below. A nuclear fission reaction can release a high amount of energy. Often, the products of nuclear fission include neutrons and gamma rays. These smaller particles are called fragments. Nuclear fission is the splitting of a nucleus into smaller particles. Key Terms: Deuterium, Half-Life, Neutron Bombardment, Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Fusion, Nucleus, Radiation, Radioactive Decay, Tritium What is Nuclear Fission What is the Difference Between Nuclear Fission and Fusion The main difference between nuclear fission and fusion is that nuclear fission is the division of an atom into smaller particles whereas nuclear fusion is the combination of smaller atoms to form a large atom. Although nuclear fission reactions are not that much found in the environment, nuclear fusion is found in stars such as the sun. Nuclear fusion releases a higher energy than that of nuclear fission. In both reactions, the atoms are altered, and the end products would be completely different from the initial reactants. These reactions release a very high amount of energy. Nuclear fusion and nuclear fission are chemical reactions that take place in the nucleus of an atom. Moderator: Moderator decreases the energy of neutrons so that they can be further used for fission reaction heavy water and graphite are used as moderator.Ĭontrol Rod: rods of cadmium or Boron are used to observe the excess neutrons produced in fission of Uranium nucleus so that the chain reaction continues to be controlled.Main Difference – Nuclear Fission vs Fusion There are several components of nuclear reactor which are as follows: Nuclear reactor is an arrangement in which controlled Nuclear Fission reaction takes place. They found that when U²³⁵ nucleus is excited by the capture of a Neutron it splits into two nuclei Ba¹⁴² & K⁹². Nuclear Fission was first demonstrated by Strassmann and Hahn. The end product of all natural radioactive element after emission of radioactive rays is lead. The rays emitted by Radioactive were first recognised by RutherFord. The energy released in the nuclear fission is called nuclear energy. The nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two nuclei of nearly equal mass is called Nuclear Fission. For the nuclear fusion a temperature of the order of 10 K is required. The energy released by sun and other starts is called nuclear fusion. When two or more light nuclei combine together to form a heavier nucleus, tremendous energy is released. With the addition of impurity melting point of a substance decreases. Melting point of a substance which expands in the process of a fusion increases with the increase in pressure. Melting point of a substance which contracts in the process of fusion decreases with the increase in pressure. MP of a substance changes with the change in the pressure. Freezing takes place at a fixed temperature called freezing point(FP). Freezing the process by which a substance is changed from liquid state to solid state is called freezing. Fusion takes place at a fixed temperature called melting point(MP). The process by which a substance is changed from solid state into Liquid state is called fusion. Before knowing the difference lets find the meaning of each distinctively. Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission may sound the same but have a lot of difference. Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission are the terms commonly used in the physics (or) Nuclear physics.

Nuclear fission vs fusion