Energy Nuclear Fusion, Nuclear Fission, Combustion and Solar Radiation

Nuclear Fusion: Energy from the Sun When two or more lighter atoms fuse together to create one larger one Occurs in all stars What are stars made of? – Hydrogen – Helium Not radioactive in nature – if processes is triggered to happen it will be radioactive

What is radioactivity? Radioactive- an element that leaks energy because the nuclei is unstable Many different isotopes (types) Most common forms are alpha, bet and gamma Used medically to treat cancer = radiation

Nuclear Fusion Must have high density, high temperature Produces 3-4x the energy that nuclear fission produces Hydrogen bomb uses nuclear fusion – first used in 1950’s as a result of the Cold War

Nuclear Fission The splitting of a large atom into two or more smaller ones Does not normally occur in nature Is mostly radioactive Must have critical mass of the substance and high speed neutrons Takes little energy

Nuclear Fission Energy released is 1 million x of that of a chemical reaction – Still less than that of nuclear fusion Used as a nuclear weapon : the atom bomb, atomic bomb Used in nuclear power plants

Combustion Combustion is a chemical process -substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat. -the original substance is called the fuel - fuel can be liquid, gas or solid -the source of oxygen is called the oxidizer -usually air

How Combustion Works

3 Types of Energy List out the three types of energy and summarize their main points 1.Nuclear Fusion Nuclear Fission Combustion