Question

why do nuclear power plants use fission instead of fusion?

• scientists have not yet gotten a fusion reaction to happen on earth
• per gram of fuel, fission releases more energy than fusion.
• the energy from fusion cannot yet be converted to electricity.
• fusion requires conditions that use too much energy to maintain.

Explanation:

• Option 1: Scientists have achieved fusion reactions (e.g., in experimental setups like tokamaks), so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: Per gram of fuel, fusion releases more energy than fission (fusion of hydrogen to helium is extremely energetic), so this is incorrect.
• Option 3: Energy from fusion can be theoretically converted to electricity (similar to how fission energy is converted, via heat to electricity), so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: Fusion requires extremely high temperature and pressure (like in stars) to overcome electrostatic repulsion of nuclei. Maintaining these conditions on Earth currently requires more energy than the fusion reaction produces (or is very inefficient), making it unfeasible for power plants. Fission, on the other hand, can be controlled in reactors with manageable conditions.

Answer:

D. Fusion requires conditions that use too much energy to maintain