Fusion to change the World!

Christine Britney M. Pilotin

How Nuclear Fusion Really Could
Change the World
Overview

• Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic

nuclei are combined to form one or more different atomic
nuclei and subatomic particles. The difference in mass
between the reactants and products is manifested as either
the release or the absorption of energy
Research

• Nuclear fusion is what happens when two or more atoms collide at

high speeds and fuse together to form a new atom. It's the same
process that fuels the sun itself. By contrast, nuclear fission is
when an atom is split apart. Fission is the process used in our
nuclear power plants.
• Fusion generates three to four times more energy than fission does.
Most importantly, fusion doesn't produce any radioactive waste. It
is, for the most part, a clean way of generating power. It is fossil
fuel-free, and free of hazardous waste.
Variables
A Solution to Climate Change
Since nuclear fusion is such a powerful way to generate energy, and
since a fusion reactor can potentially be so compact, it could
eventually replace all other forms of energy production anywhere in
the world. That would mean that generating energy from fossil fuels
would no longer be necessary. In fact, just one kilogram of fusion fuel
can provide the same amount of energy as 10 million kilograms of
fossil fuel. So the planet's electricity production could be entirely
carbon neutral.
Clean and Safe

Unlike the nuclear fission in modern day reactors, fusion is much

safer. Since no radioactive waste is produced, the dangers of a
meltdown are non-existent. There is also no danger of fusion going
into a runaway reaction.
More expansive space flight

Engines fueled by fusion will radically transform our ability to

explore space. For instance, fusion could make it possible to travel to
Mars in a month, instead of the six months currently projected for
flight to the red planet.
Limitless Fuel
Fusion also provides a virtually limitless supply of fuel. It can be
produced using seawater as an input, which means we can get all the
fuel we need from the ocean, rather than having to drill for more
limited sources, as we do with oil. Fusion could end most of the
world's strife that revolves around limited resource extraction.
Because the fuel supply is nearly limitless, this also means that
fusion power could potentially be dirt cheap.
Summary
Nuclear fusion is the process by which the sun and other stars
create their gargantuan amounts of energy. It's also the energy
that was behind the Big Bang, which scientists believe occurred
approximately three minutes after the macrocosmos began.
Physically, fusion is the process by which two nuclei are joined
together. In the sun, fusion turns hydrogen into helium. On
Earth, we use fuel such as Deuterium, Tritium (both forms of
Hydrogen) and Helium to create fusion reactions. So far, we've
only managed to use fusion in thermonuclear weapons. But this
could soon all change.
Summary
Successfully harnessed, nuclear fusion could be the answer to the
world's energy shortage. Just 10g of Deuterium (which can be
extracted from 500L of water) and 15g of Tritium (found in 30g of
Lithium) could provide enough energy to last you or me a lifetime.
The materials required to create fusion energy are cheap and plentiful
on Earth, and there is no danger of a nuclear meltdown, as with the
nuclear energy we use today. Any malfunction in a fusion reaction
results in a rapid shutdown. In addition, there are no associated
pollutants, and the radioactivity created decays rapidly, so there is no
radioactive waste for future generations to clean up.