Fission and Fusion
Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 52 of 53.
Fission: a heavy nucleus splits, about 200 MeV each time; its neutrons can split more.
Fusion: light nuclei join. It powers the Sun.
Both: the products weigh less; E = Δm c².
Challenge
In the fusion D + T → He + n, the masses are: deuterium 2.014102 u, tritium 3.016049 u, helium-4 4.002603 u, neutron 1.008665 u. First find the mass that disappears, m_d, then the energy E given out, in MeV.
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics
1Reflection and Refraction
Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber4Mechanical Waves
What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String