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One large nucleus, typically uranium, undergoes fission and releases several neutrons along with the major fission products. These neutrons strike more uranium atoms and are absorbed by the nucleus causing it to become unstable. It undergoes fission releasing more neutrons and more fission products. These neutrons strike more uranium atoms etc.
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Can the chain reaction of nuclear fission be stopped or controlled?
Yes, the chain reaction of nuclear fission can be controlled by using control rods made of materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons, thus regulating the rate of fission. Additionally, cooling systems can also be used to control the temperature and prevent the reactor from overheating.
What are the destructive uses of nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission can be used in destructive ways, such as in atomic bombs where a chain reaction is initiated to cause a powerful explosion. Additionally, nuclear fission can be used in nuclear reactors to produce energy for electricity, but if not controlled properly, accidents like meltdowns can occur, leading to environmental and health hazards.
How is fission inside a powerplant controlled?
Fission in a power plant is controlled by using control rods made of materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons, slowing down or stopping the chain reaction. By adjusting the position of these control rods, operators can regulate the rate of fission, maintaining a stable and controlled nuclear reaction to generate heat for electricity production.
Is fission always with uranium?
No, fission can occur with other isotopes as well, such as plutonium and thorium. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are the most commonly used isotopes in nuclear fission reactions due to their ability to sustain a chain reaction.
What is a self sustained nuclear fission chain reaction controlled by?
In most nuclear reactors control rods are used, which contain some material that absorbs neutrons, like boron. These can be finely adjusted to keep the reactor just critical, or dropped in to shutdown quickly if necessary.
Can the chain reaction of nuclear fission be stopped or controlled?
Yes, the chain reaction of nuclear fission can be controlled by using control rods made of materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons, thus regulating the rate of fission. Additionally, cooling systems can also be used to control the temperature and prevent the reactor from overheating.
Can fission happen on earth?
Yes, all natural radiation (in the rocks) is a result of fission (but this fission is not part of a chain reaction like in a fission bomb). However, it is theoretically possible for natural processes to concentrate radioactive elements (uranium) to the extent where a natural nuclear fission reactor (a chain reaction like in a nuclear power plant) will form. Oklo in in Gabon is the only known location for this to have happened and consists of 16 sites at which self-sustaining nuclear fission reactions took place approximately 1.7 billion years ago.
What are the destructive uses of nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission can be used in destructive ways, such as in atomic bombs where a chain reaction is initiated to cause a powerful explosion. Additionally, nuclear fission can be used in nuclear reactors to produce energy for electricity, but if not controlled properly, accidents like meltdowns can occur, leading to environmental and health hazards.
Can fission take place in the nucleus of hydrogen atom?
No, it cannot. Fission is the "splitting" of an atom, and a hydrogen atom will not fission. Some hydrogen atoms have a neutron stuck to the proton in their nucleus. Some even have two neutrons stuck to that proton. These neutrons can be "knocked loose" in something like a nuclear chair reaction in a weapon. The neutrons then can contribute to the building of the nuclear chain reaction. But fission doesn't happen to hydrogen.
What is the science behind the atomic bomb?
The science is that of nuclear physics. By taking an unstable heavy substance, such as uranium or plutonium, and hitting it with neutrons, some of the material will break (fission) into lighter materials, releasing energy, and more neutrons, which in turn cause more material to fission. This is called a nuclear chain reaction.
How is fission inside a powerplant controlled?
Fission in a power plant is controlled by using control rods made of materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons, slowing down or stopping the chain reaction. By adjusting the position of these control rods, operators can regulate the rate of fission, maintaining a stable and controlled nuclear reaction to generate heat for electricity production.
What type of nuclear reaction occurs in nuclear weapons?
Nuclear weapons use nuclear fission reactions, where heavy atomic nuclei, like Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239, split into lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This energy release causes a chain reaction, leading to a powerful explosion.
What do fission of uranium produce?
Uranium fission creates a chain reaction that initiates a chain reaction that grows exponentially into a massive conversion of the potential energy inside the uranium atom into kinetic energy in the form of an explosion - a nuclear explosion. These are the bombs that ended WW2. Today we can split H atoms, which release significantly more energy.
Is fission always with uranium?
No, fission can occur with other isotopes as well, such as plutonium and thorium. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are the most commonly used isotopes in nuclear fission reactions due to their ability to sustain a chain reaction.
Which particle is commonly used to initiate a fission chain reaction?
Neutrons are commonly used to initiate a fission chain reaction. When a neutron collides with a nucleus of a fissile material like uranium-235 or plutonium-239, it can split the nucleus, releasing more neutrons and causing a chain reaction.
What is a self sustained nuclear fission chain reaction controlled by?
In most nuclear reactors control rods are used, which contain some material that absorbs neutrons, like boron. These can be finely adjusted to keep the reactor just critical, or dropped in to shutdown quickly if necessary.
Which of the following is the name given to a situation in which one fission reaction innstigates exactly one more fission reaction?
A runaway chain reaction.It is called super criticality, with KEffective > 1.When one fission reaction instigates more than one or more fission reactions it is called a Chain Reaction.KEffective is the neutron multiplication factor which is an indication of whether a reaction is stable (=1), increasing (>1), or decreasing (
