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Last Post 10/20/2010 9:52 AM by Emilia Kilpua

fusion instead of fission

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10/20/2010 7:24 AM
My students would like to ask why the Sun uses nuclear fusion instead of nuclear fission to make energy.

Tags: nuclear, fusion, fission

Emilia Kilpua

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Posts:88

10/20/2010 9:52 AM
There is only a very small amount of heavy elements in the Sun that can undergo fission. On the contrary about three quarters of the Sun is hydrogen that is burned to helium in nuclear fusion. So there is plenty of fuel for fusion to happen, at least for several billions year still!