What are the two types of nuclear energy processes?

There are two fundamental nuclear processes considered for energy production: fission and fusion. Fission is the energetic splitting of large atoms such as Uranium or Plutonium into two smaller atoms, called fission products.

What two forces are working to make nuclear fusion possible?

The origin of the energy released in fusion of light elements is due to an interplay of two opposing forces: the nuclear force that draws together protons and neutrons, and the Coulomb force that causes protons to repel each other.

What is nuclear energy give any two uses?

Radioisotopes, nuclear power process heat and non-stationary power reactors have essential uses across multiple sectors, including consumer products, food and agriculture, industry, medicine and scientific research, transport, and water resources and the environment.

What are the two applications of nuclear energy?

Background: Nuclear energy can be used for various industrial applications, such as seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating or cooling, the extraction of tertiary oil resources and process heat applications such as cogeneration, coal to liquids conversion and assistance in the synthesis of chemical …

What are the two conditions required for nuclear fusion reaction that takes place in the sun?

Conditions for Nuclear Fusion High temperature gives the hydrogen atoms enough energy to overcome the electrical repulsion between the protons. Fusion requires temperatures of about 100 million Kelvin (approximately six times hotter than the sun’s core).

Which best describes the process of nuclear fission?

Nuclear fission is a process where the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, known as fission products. The fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction, and huge amounts of energy are released in the process.

What are the engineering challenges of fusion power?

Fusion power offers the prospect of an almost inexhaustible source of energy for future generations, but it also presents so far unresolved engineering challenges. The fundamental challenge is to achieve a rate of heat emitted by a fusion plasma that exceeds the rate of energy injected into the plasma.

Which has more energy fusion or nuclear fission?

On a per mass, or per nucleon basis, fusion wins hands-down: one gram of deuterium results in 10 12 J of energy, or 275 million kcal. Fission gives a comparatively small 20 million kcal per gram of 235 U. So fusion is over ten times as potent.

What is a fusion reactor and how does it work?

In a fusion reactor, the concept is that neutrons generated from the D-T fusion reaction will be absorbed in a blanket containing lithium which surrounds the core. The lithium is then transformed into tritium (which is used to fuel the reactor) and helium.

What is the minimum mass required for nuclear fission to occur?

In practice, one must have mass number above about 100 before fission into two equal pieces will release net energy. But the point is almost meaningless, given that the only three nuclei susceptible to slow-neutron fission have 233, 235, and 239 nuclei—well above the threshold for energy gain.