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Physics 62 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Nuclear fusion of hydrogen produces more energy than nuclear fission of uranium. A student claims that this means that fission–based power plants are safer, and we should not build fusion–based plants. Which most accurately disputes the student's argument? (2 points) The most dangerous aspect of nuclear power is radioactive waste, which fusion does not produce. Both nuclear fission and fusion produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. Nuclear fusion produces far more dangerous chemicals than nuclear fission does. The more energy a power plant produces, the safer it is.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@experimentX I have no idea what the answer would be for this...

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I would say fusion produces no "waste", because you combine hydrogen atoms to helium (to say it sloppy)... like in the sun :)

OpenStudy (ujjwal):

The most dangerous aspect of nuclear power is radioactive waste, which fusion does not produce.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

None of these is a great argument, although I suspect the first is what's wanted. The best argumetn would be pointing out that fusion is inherently unstable. It requires extremely special conditions to get started, and will stop immediately if even the slightest thing goes wrong. Fission, on the other hand, is self-sustaining. Once you *start* a fission chain-reaction, it goes along on its own, and it becomes a challenge to stop it. You have to insert control rods, et cetera. With fusion, if anything goes wrong with whatever it is you're using to contain the reaction, the reaction instantly stops.

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