Fusion and fission are opposite processes yet each one releases energy. How is this & isn't it contradictory

Answer 1

Here's an easy way to understand this. The iron nucleus represents the lowest possible energy potential, so that any reaction driving atoms towards iron will result in net energy being released. This means any fusion reaction of elements lighter than iron forming heavier elements will give up energy, and any fission reaction of elements heavier than iron forming lighter elements will also give up energy. That's why iron is usually the final state in stellar nucleosythesis, and why it's so common.

Answer 2

Very intuitive of you. It would be contradictory if you are doing Fission and Fusion to the same thing. Splitting an atom (releases energy) putting that atom back together would require energy. But Fusion is usually done with 2 Hydrogen atoms and it makes a Helium atom and energy. Because the resulting He atom has less energy than the 2 H atoms. And again, if you were to take the He atom and split it into 2 H atoms than it would require energy.

Answer 3

Nuclear fission breaks atomic bonds and in the chain reaction, energy is released.

Fusion bonds nuclei together. For a simple fusion process, 4 atomic nuclei (protons) go into the process, four nuclei come out (2 protons, 2 neutrons) yet the weight is slightly less than the original 4 protons. The difference in weight is the release of enery.