Nuclear Fusion Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is nuclear fusion?

The joining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

What happens to the total mass of the particles during nuclear fusion?

It decreases — some of the mass is converted into the energy of radiation.

True or false? Nuclear fusion is the joining together of two atoms.

False. It is the joining together of two nuclei.

How do fission and fusion differ in the nuclei involved?

Fission: one large, unstable nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. Fusion: two light nuclei join to form a heavier nucleus.

True or false? Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion release energy.

True. Both processes release energy, though by different changes to the nuclei.

True or false? In nuclear fusion a nucleus must first absorb a neutron.

False. Neutron absorption starts fission; fusion needs two light nuclei to join.