Question

Which of the following is a difference between fusion and fission?

(a) Fusion means sticking atomic nuclei together, while fission means breaking them apart.
(b) Fusion is a nuclear reaction, while fission is a chemical reaction.
(c) Fusion occurs primarily in the Sun's core, while fission occurs only in the photosphere.
(d) Fusion produces a continuous spectrum, while fission produces emission lines.
(e) Fusion involves breaking atoms apart, while fission involves sticking them together.

Answer 1

Fusion is the combining of light nuclei to form heavier nuclei with energy release, while fission is the splitting of heavy nuclei into lighter ones, also releasing energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between fusion and fission is that fusion involves the joining together of light atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei, releasing energy during the process, while fission involves the breaking apart of heavy, complex nuclei into lighter nuclei, also releasing energy. In nuclear fusion, which powers the stars, two light atoms, such as hydrogen, fuse together to form a heavier atom like helium, releasing a significant amount of energy. On the other hand, nuclear fission is when a heavy atom such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 is split into smaller atoms, which also releases energy and can lead to a chain reaction; this process is utilized in nuclear reactors.