The Production Of Nuclear Energy

     

      A nucleus makes up most of the mass of every atom. This nucleus is held together by an extremely powerful force called nuclear force. Because of this force, a large amount of energy is concentrated in the nucleus. 

       Any process in which a particle penetrates a nucleus and changes it to produce nuclear energy is called nuclear reaction. In nuclear reaction, nuclear energy is produced by two processes namely nuclear fission and fusion. 

Nuclear Fission

The process of breaking up of the nucleus of a heavy atom into two or more smaller nuclei with the release of a large amount of energy is known as nuclear fission.

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Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which nucleus of a heavy atom splits into smaller atoms(parts)with lot amount of energy.

The energy produced is known as nuclear energy, because of the original mass of the sum of the masses of the products produced after nuclear fission. The difference between these masses before and after the nuclear fission is converted into nuclear energy.  

Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two or more light nuclei combine to form a heavy nucleus. The difference in mass is converted into energy. The energy liberated is called thermo-nuclear energy. For example, the energy production in the sun and stars is due to the nuclear fusion. In sun, four hydrogen nuclei combine to form a helium nucleus at very high pressure and temperature. Also, hydrogen bomb works by the principle of nucleus fusion. It is more powerful than an atom bomb.

Nuclear fusion produces s more energy than nuclear fission, but nuclear fusion requires certain energy surrounding to happen.