| Check any newspaper - you'll read about the many | | | | of heat needs to be maintained to keep the reaction |
| controversies surrounding nuclear power. Despite its | | | | going for a long period of time. Both fusion and |
| great energy potential, people are generally | | | | fission can create power but one must decide which |
| frightened by it. Think of the disasters at Nagasaki | | | | method is better. |
| and Chernobyl - these incidents provide powerful | | | | Fusion creates less radioactive waste than Fission, |
| ammunition against nuclear power. But, like anything | | | | and that waste is generally only dangerous for |
| else, there are discussions about the advantages and | | | | around 50 years. Fission, on the other hand, leaves a |
| disadvantages of using nuclear power as an | | | | lot of waste that remains reactive for tens of |
| alternative energy. | | | | thousands of years. This is the huge issue with |
| Despite the bad press, many countries are now | | | | Fission. |
| enjoying nuclear power as a safe and affordable | | | | The other bonus with Fusion is that it has virtually no |
| alternative energy. France, for instance, employs | | | | safety risks. The whole process is self-sustained. |
| nuclear power for about 75% of its energy needs, | | | | Essentially, if a problem were to occur with Fission, |
| and can boast that it has the cleanest air of any | | | | the reaction would be almost unstoppable. With |
| industrialized nation. Cost-wise, it's the cheapest | | | | fusion, the biggest factor is heat. If a malfunction |
| electricity in Europe. | | | | occurs, the reactors cool, stopping the reaction and |
| We've all heard the term, "Nuclear Fusion". It is | | | | erasing the risk of meltdown. |
| important to understand the meaning of this so that | | | | On a side note, the materials needed for nuclear |
| an informed decision can be made as to whether or | | | | fusion are found in abundance and cannot be used to |
| not it is a good option for a country. | | | | make weapons. |
| Here's the layman's explanation of fusion and fission: | | | | Considering all the factors, nuclear fusion seems to |
| Fission makes energy by splitting the atom, which | | | | be a viable option for creating power. Scientists are |
| requires very heavy metals in order to work. Fusion | | | | continually working on finding ways to create a |
| is the process of fusing two atoms together. Not to | | | | self-sustained fusion reactor that is also energy |
| get too technical, this uses light nuclei, which are | | | | efficient. Right now fission reactors create energy, |
| mostly variations of hydrogen. | | | | but are high risk and drop a lot of radioactive waste, |
| Here's what happens when atoms fuse together - | | | | could potentially melt down, and of course - use |
| helium is made. Helium is lighter than the hydrogen | | | | materials that could be used to make weapons. |
| atoms were. The mass lost during the reaction is | | | | Once nuclear fusion becomes a viable option, it could |
| what produces the energy. It is in the form of heat, | | | | potentially become the cleanest and most renewable |
| which then powers a turbine to produce electricity. | | | | source of energy on the planet. |
| The biggest problem with nuclear power is that a lot | | | | |