Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in a tremendous amount of energy. Two types are fission and fusion.
nuclear fission
The two processes that produce nuclear changes are nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion involves combining two atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, while nuclear fission involves splitting a heavy nucleus into smaller ones. Both processes release a large amount of energy.
The nuclear reactions in the Sun primarily involve fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium, releasing energy in the process. In a nuclear reactor, the reactions typically involve fission of heavy nuclei like uranium or plutonium, releasing energy through splitting these nuclei. The conditions and mechanisms governing the reactions in the Sun and in a nuclear reactor are different due to the vastly varying scales and environments of the two systems.
No, natural gas and nuclear energy are two different sources of energy. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is primarily composed of methane, while nuclear energy is generated through the process of nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor.
Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in a tremendous amount of energy. Two types are fission and fusion.
It is a process, in which a heavy nucleus is broken down in to two or more medium heavy fragments. It is used in nuclear reactor and atom bomb.
The uranium 235 atoms in the nuclear fuel are what actually fission, or split into two other atoms. The uranium is in ceramic fuel pellets that are inserted into fuel rods, that make up fuel elements, that are in the reactor core that is located in the reactor vessel of the nuclear power plant. After the fuel has been in the reactor it begins to produce plutonium 239 atoms within the fuel which will also undergo a fission reaction.
A nuclear fission reaction is controlled in a nuclear reactor by using control rods made of materials that absorb neutrons, such as boron or cadmium. By adjusting the position of these control rods within the reactor core, the rate of fission and thus the power output can be regulated. Inserting the control rods absorbs neutrons and reduces the number available for further fission reactions, helping to maintain a steady power level.
This is not correct. Assuming "Using Nuclear Energy" means using it to generate electricity in a reactor. A nuclear reactor is a power plant, that uses nuclear fission to eventually generate electricity. An atom bomb also uses nuclear fission to generate energy causing an explosion. However, due to fundamental differences between the two a nuclear reactor cannot explode like an atom bomb.
Heat is generated inside a nuclear reactor by the release of binding energy (Strong Atomic Force) by the process of fission (splitting one atom into two) or fusion (combining two atoms into one).
nuclear fission
Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are two possible fuel sources for a nuclear reactor. These isotopes are fissile materials that undergo nuclear fission reactions to generate heat in a controlled manner for producing electricity.
The two fuels commonly used in nuclear power are uranium-235 and plutonium-239. These fuels undergo nuclear fission reactions in the reactor to generate heat energy which is then used to produce electricity.
A nuclear accident is the unintended release of nuclear radiation into the environment, such as damage to a nuclear reactor or to a nuclear weapon (plane crash carrying nuclear bombs, etc). The two basic forms of nuclear weapons are fission and fusion weapons.
nuclear fission
Control rods need to contain material that is a strong absorber of neutrons, so that rapid shutdown can be achieved when necessary. Two such materials are Cadmium and Boron. Both have been used in different types of reactor. The elements may be used as alloys or as chemical compounds, and will be encased in stainless steel to avoid corrosion in the reactor.