Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive
nucleus into two smaller nuclei
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive
nucleus into two smaller nuclei
Nuclear Fission and Energy: The splitting of
atoms produces a large amount of energy.
This energy is produced in nuclear power
plants
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive nucleus
into two smaller nuclei
Nuclear Fission and Energy: The splitting of atoms
produces a large amount of energy. This energy is
produced in nuclear power plants
Problems with nuclear power: The waste produced
has to be safely stored for thousands of years.
Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear Reactions: When an atom’s nucleus
changes by gaining or releasing particles or
energy.
Particles released: Protons, neutrons and or
electrons
Particles released in nuclear reactions
Rules for writing nuclear equations
• The sum of the mass numbers must be the
same on both sides
• The sum of the charges (atomic number) must
be the same.
Fission reaction
Chain reactions and weapons
• Chain reaction: when one fission reaction
stimulates the next reaction (eg a neutron
from one will join to another nuclei causing it
to split)
Chain Reaction
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Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion: The opposite of nuclear fission
- When two smaller nuclei fuse to form one
larger one