The energy release when calculated per unit nucleon (proton and neutron) of the reactant in fusion is significantly higher than that obtained in fission. As usual, this mass defect is the source of energy released in fusion reaction. Although (mass + energy) remains conserved in nuclear fusion, but the cumulative mass of the reaction products is lower than the cumulative mass of reactants, and hence mass defect occurs. Such heat is used to produce high pressure steam for driving a turbine, which, in turn, generates electricity.Īnother type of nuclear reaction is nuclear fusion where two or more lighter nuclei are combined to form a heavier nucleus. This reaction is utilized in nuclear fission power plants where uranium fuel (enriched with U-235) is made to undergo fission in a reactor in order to generate heat. All such chemical elements having mass number higher than iron can theoretically undergo nuclear fission. ![]() The consequent mass defect ultimately leads to the generation of thermal energy following the Einstein’s Mass-Energy Conversion Formula (E = mc 2), and hence (mass + energy) remains conserved. The cumulative mass of the reaction products is lower than the mass of the reactants. The neutrons produced in one fission reaction can once again participate in fission of the other nucleus of fissile materials leading to a self-sustained chain reaction. ![]() ![]() Nuclear fission is one type of nuclear reaction where a heavier nucleus, when bombarded by neutron of sufficient velocity, splits into two or more lighter nuclei and at the same time releases one or more neutrons and energy.
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