--- title: "What is different between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion ?" description: "What is different between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion ?" author: "Sanat Shukla" published: 2018-09-12 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49750/what-is-different-between-nuclear-fission-and-nuclear-fusion category: "science" tags: ["nuclear physics"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # What is different between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion ? ## Answers ### Answer by user Fission and fusion are [nuclear](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/301629/how-does-nuclear-technology-affect-the-global-economy) reactions that produces [energy](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/33637/three-tips-for-an-energy-efficient-home-for-2019) but they are different in their own ways. Let's have a look to the main [differences](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300750/what-is-the-link-between-resting-metabolic-rate-and-basal-metabolic-rate) between the two. ![What is different between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion ?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/43daa606-d090-4349-b9e0-aa0e8e281a05/images/12690235-ec48-418f-a9d0-7d7be87888cc.jpeg)\ **Nuclear fission** - In this reaction, a heavy nucleus splits into two nuclei with smaller mass numbers. - produces many highly radioactive particles. - It does not normally [occur in nature](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/52012/which-element-does-not-occur-in-nature-but-can-be-produced-artificially). - Critical mass of the substance and high-[speed](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/167715/how-will-be-the-internet-be-like-in-2034) neutrons are required. - It takes little energy to [split](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/2357/how-to-split-a-string-in-java) two atoms in a fission reaction. - The energy released by fission is a million times greater than that released in chemical reactions, but lower than the energy released by nuclear fusion. **Nuclear fusion** - Fusion occurs when two atoms combines together to form a heavier [atom](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/168003/configuring-atom-for-python), like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. - Few radioactive particles are produced by fusion reaction, but if a fission "[trigger](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/430/implementing-triggers-in-sql-server)" is used, radioactive particles will result from that. - It occurs in stars, such as the sun. - High density, high [temperature](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300335/what-is-normal-body-temperature) [environment](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/301556/the-growing-environmental-risks-of-e-waste) is required. - Extremely high energy is required to bring two or more protons close enough that nuclear forces overcome their electrostatic repulsion. - The energy released by fusion is three to four times greater than the energy released by fission. Read More at : http://answers.mindstick.com/ ### Answer by Shriyam Srivastava There are 2 types of nuclear reactions in science known as **nuclear fission** and **nuclear fusion.** The disintegration and combination of elemental nucleus is classified under fission & fusion**. Both of them are energy reactions** but their applications are not the same. While **fission** is the splitting of heavy nucleus/ atom into smaller/lighter nuclei or atom;**fusion** on the other hand is the process where two heavy nuclei combine together to form one single nucleus. \ | **Nuclear Fission** | **Nuclear Fusion** | | --- | --- | | When the nucleus of the atom splits into smaller particles though a nuclear reaction. | It is reaction through which two or more light nuclei collide with each other to form a heavier nucleus. | | Large amounts of **energy is released** through the splitting of atom. | The energy released here is **much more than that in fission** | | These reactions do not occur naturally. | They occur naturally in stars and sun, also other natural processes. | | Little amount of energy is needed to split the atom into two. | Large amount of energy is needed to fuse two or more atoms together. | | Example: **Atomic bomb** | Example: **Hydrogen bomb.** | \ --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49750/what-is-different-between-nuclear-fission-and-nuclear-fusion Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.