Question

The difference between fusion and fission is that:

(a) fusion always releases energy while fission always consumes it
(b) fission always releases energy while fusion always consumes it
(c) fission is the splitting of nuclei while fusion is the joining of nuclei
(d) fission converts protons into neutrons while fusion converts neutrons into protons

Answer 1

The main difference between fusion and fission is that fission is the splitting of atoms while fusion is the fusing of atoms. Fusion always releases energy, and fission releases energy when heavy nuclei break up into lighter ones.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main difference between fusion and fission is that fission is the splitting of an atom into two or more smaller ones, while fusion is the fusing of two or more smaller atoms into a larger one.

Fusion always releases energy as light atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus, whereas fission releases energy as heavy, complex nuclei break up into lighter ones.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c) fission is the splitting of nuclei while fusion is the joining of nuclei.