Atomic StructureComparison
Comparing Fission and Fusion
Part of Nuclear Fission & Fusion — GCSE Physics
This comparison covers Comparing Fission and Fusion within Nuclear Fission & Fusion for GCSE Physics. Revise Nuclear Fission & Fusion in Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 25 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 9 of 18 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 9 of 18
Practice
13 questions
Recall
25 flashcards
⚖️ Comparing Fission and Fusion
| Feature | Fission | Fusion |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Splitting heavy nuclei | Joining light nuclei |
| Fuel | Uranium-235, Plutonium-239 | Hydrogen isotopes (deuterium, tritium) |
| Energy per kg | Very high | Even higher (~4× fission) |
| Conditions needed | Slow neutrons | 100+ million °C, high pressure |
| Waste | Radioactive waste (thousands of years) | Helium (non-radioactive) + some neutrons |
| Current use | Power stations, submarines | Stars, hydrogen bombs, research reactors |
| On Earth | Used since 1950s | Still experimental (ITER, JET) |