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Fission vs. Fusion: What's the Difference?

Provided by: U.S. Department of Energy|Published on: June 29, 2022

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Synopsis

This short video uses animations and text to highlight the differences between nuclear fission and fusion.
Students will learn the differences between the physical processes, fuel type, byproducts, various uses, and the amount of energy that each nuclear reaction produces.

Subjects: Physics

Authors: U.S. Department of Energy

Region: Global

Languages: English

Positives

With simple visuals and explanations, this video is appropriate for a wide range of audiences and ages.
There is no audio other than music for this video.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should already have a basic understanding of nuclear energy.
It may be helpful for students to have some knowledge about nuclear fission before learning about nuclear fusion.

Differentiation

This video could be a helpful resource for students who are researching current and future innovations in clean energy.
Chemistry classes could discuss why uranium and plutonium are the elements that are used for fission and why hydrogen is the best element for fusion.
Pair this resource with this video on the basics of nuclear fission, this video about how nuclear energy works, and this lesson on nuclear energy.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.