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When or how is a nuclear chain reaction caused by nuclear fission a problem to people?
It is not a problem if it is a controlled chain reaction and all safety measures are in place and used. The primary problem associated with nuclear energy relates to the handling and storage of radioactive waste. Of particular concern is spent or depleted fuel rods. Spent fuel rods are highly radioactive. It takes thousands of years for radioactivity levels of this material to decay to safe levels. Human exposure to such radioactive waste can cause serious health problems and even death. Therefore, radioactive waste, including fuel rods, must be stored in specialized containers. The storage must be secure to prevent theft and/or malicious tampering.
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What is splitting of atomic nuclei?
Splitting of atomic nuclei, also known as nuclear fission, is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller parts. This process releases a significant amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.
What are the disadvantages of nuclear fission and fusion?
For fusion, the main disadvantage is that nobody has been able to make it work. However it does have promise and if it can be developed it will not produce the dangerous fission products that fission does. For fission, see reply to question 'What are the disadvantages of nuclear fission power'
How is nuclear fission like a chain reaction?
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.
What are negative aspects of nuclear fission?
Negative aspects of nuclear fission include the generation of radioactive waste that requires long-term storage, the risk of accidents leading to releases of radioactive materials, and the potential for nuclear proliferation if the technology falls into the wrong hands. Additionally, the cost of building and maintaining nuclear power plants can be prohibitive.
Atoms that naturally undergo nuclear fissions are called?
These are called fissile or fissionable. Fissile isotopes undergo fission, producing sufficient neutrons of sufficient power that a chain reaction can happen, if there is enough of the isotope to support it. The mass sufficient to support a chain reaction is called critical. Atoms of fissionable isotopes will undergo fission when a sufficiently energetic neutron collides with them, but the neutrons they emit when they divide are either insufficient in number or insufficient in energy to sustain an chain reaction. There is a third type of material that can undergo fission, called fertile, which is isotopes that can be caused to capture neutrons, changing into fissile or fissionable isotopes, so the fission does not happen to atoms of the fertile material directly, but to the atoms of the isotopes they become.
What is splitting of atomic nuclei?
Splitting of atomic nuclei, also known as nuclear fission, is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller parts. This process releases a significant amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.
Nuclear energy can be an answer to the problem caused by the use of fossil fuel?
It might, if we eventually manage to harness nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission is fraught with problems, especially the disposal of nuclear waste.
Which type of nuclear burst occurs?
A nuclear burst can occur as a result of a nuclear explosion, which can be caused by either a fission or fusion reaction. The specific type of burst depends on the design and intent of the nuclear device used.
What are the disadvantages of nuclear fission and fusion?
For fusion, the main disadvantage is that nobody has been able to make it work. However it does have promise and if it can be developed it will not produce the dangerous fission products that fission does. For fission, see reply to question 'What are the disadvantages of nuclear fission power'
How is nuclear fission like a chain reaction?
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.
What causes a nuclear explosion?
A nuclear explosion is caused by the rapid release of energy from a nuclear chain reaction. This can occur in a nuclear weapon when a critical mass of fissile material is rapidly brought together, leading to a highly destructive explosion. In a nuclear reactor, such an explosion is prevented through control mechanisms that regulate the nuclear reaction.
Why does uranium metal not explode in a nuclear reaction?
Uranium metal (enriched in uranium-235 up to 99 %) is a nuclear explosive, if the critical mass is reached. Also criticality accidents are possible in uranium plants or uranium storage areas.
What are negative aspects of nuclear fission?
Negative aspects of nuclear fission include the generation of radioactive waste that requires long-term storage, the risk of accidents leading to releases of radioactive materials, and the potential for nuclear proliferation if the technology falls into the wrong hands. Additionally, the cost of building and maintaining nuclear power plants can be prohibitive.
What is caused when critical mass is reached?
When critical mass is reached, a self-sustaining chain reaction occurs, leading to a nuclear explosion in the case of nuclear fission. In social contexts, critical mass refers to the point at which a movement or idea gains enough momentum to be self-sustaining and bring about significant change.
Is the nuclear bomb stronger than atom bomb or is it the other way?
Nuclear bomb: a class of weapons that generates force by nuclear reactions instead of chemical reactions. Nuclear reactions include atomic fission and nuclear fusion. Atomic bombs are a class of weapons that use fission reactions from either Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239. The reaction is caused by creating a critical mass of the radioactive element, which then undergoes a chain reaction causing its atoms to fission, or break apart, releasing energy in the form of heat and radiation. The byproducts of the reaction are strongly radioactive, causing further damage as "radioactive fallout". Thermonuclear fusion bombs are a class of weapons that use heavy hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) as the primary energy source. When heated to extreme temperatures by an igniter atomic bomb, the hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion, where the atoms fuse together to form the element lithium, release energy as heat and radiation. The quantity of energy released from a hydrogen fusion reaction is much higher than that from a fission reaction, resulting in more destruction from a relatively similar physical package
What causes a nuclear bomb?
A nuclear bomb is caused by a rapid and uncontrolled chain reaction of nuclear fission or fusion. This occurs when a critical mass of fissile material, such as uranium or plutonium, is brought together to release a massive amount of energy in the form of an explosion.
A chain reaction is caused when vibrations caused by energy waves are carried by the?
atoms and particles in a material, which in turn collide with neighboring atoms and particles, causing them to vibrate and collide with others in a cascading effect. This process results in the rapid release of energy and can lead to a chain reaction, as seen in nuclear fission reactions or chemical explosions.
