Fusion Power Explained - Future or Failure

• This video explains the possible advantages of producing fusion energy and the obstacles that scientists face as they work to develop fusion reactors. 
• Students will learn about the process of fusion, which occurs naturally in the sun and other stars. 
• The video also explains that while scientists have successfully achieved fusion on Earth, the reactors are not viable because they use more energy than they produce and they require isotopes of hydrogen or helium that are not readily available.
  

Positives

• Though it covers a large amount of material in a short time, the video is easy to understand. 
• The video offers multiple comparisons between fusion and other types of energy sources.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with terms such as isotope, thermonuclear, and plasma. 
• Students should have a basic understanding of the parts of an atom. 
• There may be an ad before the video and the last 30 seconds are an advertisement.
  

Differentiation

• Chemistry classes could discuss why hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, can be used to create a fusion reaction that produces energy without many harmful byproducts. 
• Physics classes could compare and contrast magnetic confinement and inertial confinement. 
• Science classes could research the feasibility of harvesting tritium from the moon as compared to other solutions such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and tidal power generation. 
• Other resources on our clean energy solutions include Renewable Energy: Clean Tech Solutions, Clean Energy, and How Renewables Work: A Practical Guide to Solar, Wind, and Geothermal. 

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