Question

Differentiate between ‘nuclear fission’ and ‘nuclear fusion’. Briefly discuss one example of each.

Hint:

Nuclear fission releases energy by splitting heavy nuclei, while nuclear fusion releases energy by combining light nuclei. Fusion has higher energy yield but is harder to achieve under controlled conditions.

Answer 1

(a) Difference between Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion:
Nuclear Fission:
Nuclear fission is the process in which a heavy nucleus (such as uranium-235) splits into two smaller nuclei along with the release of a large amount of energy.
It is typically induced by the absorption of a neutron.
Fission usually produces fission fragments and free neutrons.
Example: The fission of uranium-235 in a nuclear reactor releases energy. Nuclear Fusion:
Nuclear fusion is the process in which two light nuclei (such as hydrogen isotopes) combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.
Fusion occurs naturally in stars, including the Sun, where hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium.
The energy produced in fusion reactions is even greater than in fission.
Example: Fusion reactions in stars, such as the Sun, where hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium. (b) Graph of Potential Energy between a Pair of Nucleons: The graph between the potential energy \( U \) and the separation \( r \) of two nucleons shows the following characteristics: - At very short distances (small \( r \)), the potential energy is positive, indicating a repulsive force. - At an intermediate distance, the potential energy reaches a minimum, indicating a stable configuration (attractive force). - As the separation increases further, the potential energy rises, tending to zero as the nucleons are infinitely far apart. Here is the basic form of the graph: \[ \text{Graph of Potential Energy vs Separation (r)} \] \