P6.2.2: Nuclear Fission C/W: 24/11/2020 Key Words: Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Power Station, Chain Reaction SEPARATE ONLY CONTENT Learning Objectives: 5: Recall the types of nuclei that may undergo nuclear fission. 6: Describe a chain and the products of nuclear fission. Instruction Symbols: Discuss Copy into your book Mark in Green Calculate in your book Answer in your book Do activity or experiment Nuclear Fission Nuclear power is different to coal power because the heat is produced through uranium fission not burning coal. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear fission for power. 1kg of Uranium-235 can release as much energy as 30Mkg of coal. Convert this amount of coal to kilogrammes. 1kg of Uranium-235 can release as much energy as 30Mkg of coal. Convert this amount of coal to kilogrammes. 30Mkg = 30x106kg = 30,000,000kg Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear fission for power. Advantages Disadvantages More energy per kilogram of fuel No carbon dioxide released Nuclear waste produced Less fuel to transport Reliable Safety/security concerns Expensive to setup Non-renewable Sketch this diagram of a nuclear reactor Add these statements to A. B. the correct part of the C. D. diagram. E. F. They are not in the G. correct order. Watch the demo to help. Electricity is produced Heat boils water in the boiler This turns the generator Steam is produced Steam turns the turbine blades Heat is produced Uranium decays through fission in the furnace D. Steam is produced G. Uranium decays through fission in the furnace A. Electricity is produced E. Steam turns the turbine blades C. This turns the generator F. Heat is produced B. Heat boils water in the boiler Nuclear Fission Watch the animation of nuclear fission. Explain what is going on. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/nuclearfission In nuclear fission large unstable atoms break apart into smaller atoms releasing energy. This is not a random decay, neutrons are fired into to trigger the reaction. Copy and annotate this diagram. Nuclear Fission Watch this model of nuclear fission. Explain what a chain reaction is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqIJW_Qr3 c Nuclear Fission Copy and complete: During fission a _______ causes a _______ nucleus to split. _______ is released to heat the boiler and several _______ are released as well. Next the neutrons ______ with other nuclei and the process repeats itself, ______ the rate of fission. Nuclear fission is a ______ reaction because one fission causes further fissions in ________ nuclei. Extension: What happens if the chain reaction gets out of control? Nuclear Fission Copy and complete: During fission a neutron causes a uranium nucleus to split. Energy is released to heat the boiler and several neutrons are released as well. Next the neutrons collide with other nuclei and the process repeats itself, increasing the rate of fission. Nuclear fission is a chain reaction because one fission causes further fissions in other nuclei. Extension: What happens if the chain reaction gets out of control? Nuclear Fission What happens if the chain reaction gets out of control? When might this situation be useful? How can this be prevented in nuclear reactors? Nuclear Fission What happens if the chain reaction gets out of control? Too much energy is released and a nuclear explosion occurs When might this situation be useful? Nuclear weapons/bombs How can this be prevented in nuclear reactors? Remove neutrons from the reactor Boron control rods can be lowered into a reactor, these absorb neutrons and slow the rate of reaction. Watch the reactor model: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/nuclear-fission Label the control rods on your original diagram. Boron control rods can be lowered into a reactor, these absorb neutrons and slow the rate of reaction. Label the control rods on your original diagram. Boron Control Rods Nuclear Fission Challenge: A uranium-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron and splits into barium-141, krypton-92 and some neutrons. Use the periodic table to construct a balanced nuclear equation and work out the number of neutrons produced. Nuclear Fission Challenge: A uranium-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron and splits into barium-141, krypton-92 and some neutrons. Use the periodic table to construct a balanced nuclear equation and work out the number of neutrons produced. Must be three neutrons to balance mass numbers on top row. P6.2.2: Nuclear Fission C/W: 24/11/2020 Key Words: Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Power Station, Chain Reaction SEPARATE ONLY CONTENT Learning Objectives: 5: Recall the types of nuclei that may undergo nuclear fission. 6: Describe a chain and the products of nuclear fission. Instruction Symbols: Discuss Copy into your book Mark in Green Calculate in your book Answer in your book Do activity or experiment Nuclear Fission Plenary: Close your books – memory test!! Using plasticine build a “diagram” on your desk of the atoms in a nuclear fission reaction. Using a white board pen annotate directly onto your desk to explain the diagram.
