Plasma Physics & Fusion
Fusion - Physics of a fundamental Energy Source Chart
The chart Fusion: Physics of a Fundamental Energy Source presents up-to-date information on plasma physics and fusion reactions, examples of solar and terrestrial fusion reactions, explains how Einstein’s famous E=mc2 describes the process of fusion and offers illustrations of everyday and exotic plasmas. Students will be able to compare the energy released in a variety of conversion processes, including combustion, fission and fusion.
Resources
Teacher Resources
Student Activities
These activities can be used to supplement the topics on the Teaching Chart, Fusion: Physics of a Fundamental Energy Source, produced by the Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP). Included are nine activities for high school or introductory college courses and three activities for middle school. Teachers may reproduce these activities for their classroom use as long as they include credit to CPEP.
Separate Teacher’s Notes for each activity include equipment information, background information and suggestions, expected results, and answers to the questions that are asked in the student activities. An appendix to the Teacher’s Notes shows the alignment of the activity with National Science Standard.
A teacher's guide to plasma science resources
From the Coalition for Plasma Science. Download lesson plans, classroom activities, and background materials for teaching plasma science and fusion energy concepts.
General Resources
From the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics (APS-DPP):
General Atomics Fusion Education site
Access information for scientists working with the DIII-D tokamak facility, including research updates, collaboration tools, and operational details.
Interactive Plasma Physics Experience
From Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Explore the exciting new world of fusion science through fun educational resources. Journey inside a plasma-confining tokamak, control plasma experiments online, or use the phsyics modules!
From General Atomics, location of the DIII-D tokamak:
This site from General Atomics, location of the DIII-D tokamak, has links to websites of Laboratories and Universities doing research in Fusion Science.
ITER
Explore the international ITER project’s mission, progress, and technology as it builds the world’s largest fusion experiment in France.
The National Ignition Facility (NIF)
The National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a leader in fusion research using intertial confinement. Learn about the National Ignition Facility’s laser fusion research, energy goals, and advances in high-energy-density science.
"Plasma Globes -- How Do They Work?", and Other Online Comics
Explore lessons, experiments, and teaching tools focused on physics and STEM education.
Culham Center for Fusion Energy
Located in the UK, this is the home for the Joint European Torus (JET), currently the world’s largest operating tokamak. Read about JET, its research contributions, and its role in advancing fusion energy in Europe.
Video Resources
CPEP Fusion/Plasma Activities Demonstrations
Watch an overview of ITER’s design and goals as the world’s largest fusion energy experiment.
Plasma, The Most Common Phase of Matter In the Universe - SciShow
Top 10 Demos with a Plasma Globe - Arbor Scientific
Learn how fusion works, its benefits and challenges, and whether it can become a viable energy source.
Fusion Power Explained - Kurtzgesagt, in a Nutshell
See plasma globe experiments that teach plasma physics, electric fields, and gas ionization.
Arbor Scientific Conceptual Academy
Amazing video and Animation of the construction of ITER
Watch a short visual breakdown of nuclear fusion and its potential to transform global energy.