Fusion is the combination of smaller atoms into larger ones and requires temperatures over 10 million degrees to overcome electrostatic repulsion between protons. Stars generate heat and heavier elements through fusion in their cores. Fission is when atoms split into smaller atoms, releasing energy. It can be controlled for nuclear power generation or uncontrolled in atomic bombs. New elements can be artificially made through nuclear transmutation using particle accelerators to collide atoms together.

1. Unit 18Transmutation, Fission, and Fusion

2. FusionHydrogenThe combination of two smaller atoms into one larger one.HydrogenHeliumLithiumBeryllium

3. Fusion Makes Larger Elements

4. Fusion is Hard!Because the protons repel each other, getting two atoms close enough to fuse is hard.It takes temperatures approaching 10 million degrees to have them travel fast enough to overcome the electrostatic repulsion

5. Strong Nuclear ForceThe strong nuclear force is the force that holds the nucleus together.All Nucleons are attracted to each other.Because + protons repel each other (electromagnetic force), the presence of neutrons helps bind the nucleus together.Electromagnetic Force+NNN++Strong Nuclear ForceStrong Nuclear ForceStrong Nuclear Force

6. Strong Nuclear ForceIt only acts within the nucleusFusion can only occur if protons are brought within the nucleus.One approach is to shoot particles at each other at near the speed of light.

7. Fusion Releases EnergyWhen fusion occurs, some of the matter is converted to energy and that energy is released as heat.

8. Stars are Element Makers Medium stars like our sun mostly convert Hydrogen to Helium. Later, it will convert Helium to Carbon.

9. Giant stars can fuse higher atoms to larger elements.The Interior of a Giant Star

10. Super NovaBrighter than a galaxy!Shockwave spreads heavier elements across galaxyThose heavy elements condense into planets

11. Human Induced FusionHydrogen Bomb

12. FissionWhen an atom splits into two smaller atoms.The release of the strong nuclear force releases energy in the form of heat.

13. Nuclear PowerControlled fission reactions can generate heat to boil water to energy electricity.

14. Atomic BombUncontrolled fission reactions

15. Critical MassFission can only occur as a chain reaction, if you have the critical mass.Otherwise, the neutrons simply run out of material to split.

16. How to Make The BombHave two uncritical masses separated from each other.Using dynamite, you can launch the masses together beginning the nuclear reaction.

17. Nuclear TransmutationNew elements or isotopes can be created by adding particles to elements or splitting atoms.These are generally done using particle accelerators.These speed particles at each other near the speed of light to overcome electrostatic repulsion.

18. Nuclear TransmutationMost of the “artificial elements” have been created by adding particles to large atoms.Cf98C6Rf1044NCaliforniumCarbonRutherfordium24912257

19. Particle Accelerators

20. Magnets Are Used to Move Particles

21. Particle Collider

22. Collision of Gold Particles

23. How to Detect Particles