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All the energy that is present in the environment is produced by a series of physical and chemical processes. In earlier times the production of energy took place by using materials that were rich in carbon such as wood and coal. Energy is also produced by utilising non-conventional sources such as sun, wind and water. Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are two types of physical processes that are used for the production of large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission and fusion produce a lot more energy than any other conventional source of energy production.
Nuclear Fission
The process of nuclear fission leads to the production of large amounts of gamma photons through the process of radioactive decay. The two or more sub-parts of the nuclei that are formed by the process of nuclear fission are almost equal in mass. The process of nuclear fission occurs spontaneously or it can also be induced by exciting the nuclear with various particles. This process of nuclear excitation can take place by electromagnetic radiation that is supplied in the form of gamma rays. During the process of nuclear fission, a large amount of energy is released which is accompanied by the release of radioactive particles and neutrons. The neutrons that are released by the process of fission are capable of inducing nuclear fission in nearby elements as well. This can lead to a chain reaction of nuclear fission due to which a large amount of energy is released. If this chain reaction of nuclear fission is controlled in a machine such as a chain reactor, it can be used for the production and the supply of large amounts of energy for a variety of purposes.
Mechanism of Nuclear Fission
When a nucleus that is very high in mass goes through a process of fission, it can lead to the production of multiple fragments that can vary depending on the distribution of the protons and the neutrons amongst them. This uneven distribution of mass and charge amongst the fragments is known as a probability distribution. The probability of the formation of a fragment of a certain charge or mass can be calculated and the phenomenon is referred to as fission yield. The fragments that are finally formed experience a large amount of Coulomb repulsion because of the uneven distribution of neutrons in them. Due to this, these fragments recoil from each other with high kinetic energy. Different fragments recoil at different kinetic energies. The initial velocity with which these particles recoil from each other is so high that the electrons that are associated with these particles in the outermost layer cannot keep pace with the inner layer of the atom and due to this several electrons are lost in this process. Because of this the recoiling fragments not only possess high kinetic energy but also possess variable amounts of charge. These charged particles only come at rest when most of their energy has been dissipated into the nearby atoms; however, they are still not considered as stable species and can be excited by external factors. The whole process leads to the production of a high amount of energy.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the type of physical reaction in which the lighter particles join together to form a heavier particle. In several cases, the nuclei that are a part of these reactions, are of lower atomic mass and the result is a higher atomic mass. This also leads to the production of a high amount of energy. Nuclear fusion is the reaction that is used to generate power in celestial bodies such as the stars and the sun. The process of nuclear fission leads to the production of a large amount of energy because the mass of the resulting nuclei is lower in comparison to the particles that formed it. The difference in mass results in the dissipation of energy. Although there are several elements in the periodic table that are capable of conducting a nuclear fission reaction, deuterium and tritium are most susceptible to these types of reactions.
Advantages of Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Nuclear fusion and fission are highly advantageous modes of energy production because they are a much cheaper alternative in comparison to the other modes of energy production. The energy produced with the help of nuclear fission and fission also decreases the amount of emission of harmful gases in the environment. Nuclear chain reactors can work for a long period of time and hence the production of energy is also prolonged. It is also considered to be a reliable source of energy. Since the amount of energy that is produced by nuclear fission and fission is very high in concentration, it proves to be more beneficial than other modes of energy production. The operational cost of nuclear energy production is rather low and it has a very low annual mortality rate in comparison to its other counterparts.
Conclusion
Nuclear fission and fusion are physical reactions that lead to the production of large amounts of energy. In Nuclear fission, a large particle breaks down into multiple smaller particles and the process is associated with the dissipation of energy. In Nuclear fusion, smaller particles combine to form a single particle but the mass of the resulting particle is less in comparison to its predecessors. Both Nuclear fission and fusion are cheaper sources of energy production and they are also capable of producing energy for a longer period of time. These modes are recyclable and considered to be highly reliable. However, despite its advantages, nuclear energy can prove to be dangerous if not handled safely. It can also lead to major destruction and cause genetic deformities in organisms.
