March 4-5

Fission & Fusion: Nuclear Reactions and Energy ⚛️💥

📅 Lesson Overview:
Today, we learned about fission and fusion, two powerful nuclear reactions that release immense amounts of energy. Using a presentation, we completed notes exploring how these processes work, their uses, and their impact on the world.

📝 Key Concepts Covered:

1️⃣ Fission: Splitting Atoms for Energy

• What is Fission?

  • A nuclear reaction where a large atom splits into smaller atoms, releasing huge amounts of energy.

  • Commonly used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs.

• How Fission Works:

  • Uranium-235 is a common fuel for fission reactions.

  • A neutron hits the nucleus, making it unstable, causing it to split into smaller elements while releasing more neutrons and energy.

  • This chain reaction continues, releasing more energy unless controlled.

• Applications of Fission:

  • Nuclear Power Plants: Energy is controlled using control rods to regulate reactions.

  • Atomic Weapons: If uncontrolled, fission leads to massive explosions, such as the atomic bombs used in WWII.

2️⃣ Fusion: The Power of the Sun ☀️

• What is Fusion?

  • A nuclear reaction where two smaller atoms combine to form a larger atom, releasing even more energy than fission.

  • Fusion occurs in stars like the Sun and is responsible for their light and heat.

• How Fusion Works:

  • Hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing energy.

  • Requires extreme heat (millions of degrees) to overcome the repelling forces of atomic nuclei.

  • Fusion produces less radiation than fission and does not create harmful nuclear waste.

• Applications & Challenges of Fusion:

  • Hydrogen Bombs: The most powerful nuclear weapon ever tested uses fusion reactions.

  • Future Energy Source? Scientists are working to harness controlled fusion for clean, unlimited energy, but technical challenges remain.

🌍 Why This Matters:

Understanding fission and fusion helps explain how nuclear power works, how stars generate energy, and how nuclear weapons function. Fusion is the future of energy, but fission is currently the main nuclear power source on Earth.

✅ Great job exploring nuclear reactions today! Keep reviewing your notes to understand the differences between fission and fusion! ⚛️🔥