(NCM) Nuclear Fusion Lesson

Nuclear Fusion

Fusion Reaction with the following labelled: deuterium & tritium (isotopes of hydrogen), fusion, neutron, helium

The lightest nuclei are also not as stable as nuclei of intermediate mass. Nuclear fusion is a process in which light-mass nuclei combine to form a heavier and more stable nucleus. Fusion produces even more energy than fission. In the sun and other stars, four hydrogen nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures and pressures to produce a helium nucleus. The concurrent loss of mass is converted into extraordinary amounts of energy. In the example below, nuclei of two hydrogen isotopes (tritium and deuterium) fuse to form a helium nucleus. A neutron and a tremendous amount of energy are also released.

4^1H -> 1^4He + energy = sun/ball of fire

Fusion is even more appealing than fission as an energy source because no radioactive waste is produced and the only reactant needed is hydrogen. However, fusion reactions only occur at very high temperatures—in excess of 40,000,000°C. No known materials can withstand such temperatures, so there is currently no feasible way to harness nuclear fusion for energy production, although research is ongoing.

Nuclear fusion reactions in the laboratory have been extraordinarily difficult to achieve. Extremely high temperatures (in the millions of degrees) are required. Methods must be developed to force the atoms together and hold them together long enough to react. The neutrons released during the fusion reactions can interact with atoms in the reactor and convert them to radioactive materials. There has been some success in the field of nuclear fusion reactions, but the journey to feasible fusion power is still a long and uncertain one.

Fusion Hydrogen Bomb

Although nuclear fission devices had been successfully developed during World War II (the atom bomb), nuclear fusion presented more challenges. It wasn't until 1952 that the first nuclear fusion device ("Ivy Mike") was tested on a deserted island in the South Pacific. This device was not designed to be a weapon, since it weighed over 80 tons, but was to be a test of some aspects of nuclear theory. The system fired successfully, leaving behind a crater that was 164 feet deep, completely destroying the island of Elugalab.

To learn more about fusion and see live footage of Ivy Mike, watch the two videos below.

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