Physics A-Level
Fusion and fission
What Fusion and fission means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Fusion and fission
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Reference: AQA
Fusion of light nuclei moves them up the steep left-hand side towards the peak, and fission of heavy nuclei splits them into mid-mass fragments nearer the peak, both releasing energy.
Topics that use Fusion and fission
- Mass and energy (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Atomic mass unit
- Binding energy
- Binding energy per nucleon comparisons
- Breakdown of classical mechanics at relativistic speeds
- Energy release in nuclear reactions
- Energy released per kilogram of fuel
- Energy–mass equivalence
- Mass defect
Using Fusion and fission in the exam
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