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Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is the phenomenon in which an atomic nucleus splits into lighter nuclei. This reaction can be spontaneous in some isotopes, but usually is the result of heavy nuclei absorbing a neutron. Because fission often results in the emission of multiple neutrons, this reaction can be self-sustaining, making such things like nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons possible.
500 Questions
Distinguish between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
Fission is the splitting of the nucleus of a large heavy atom such as uranium into two smaller parts. Fusion is the sticking together of two light nuclei to make a heavier one, as occurs in the stars. Both processes release energy.
Why is a nuclear reactor dangerous?
Asked by Wiki User
Components in the reactor inside the primary shielding will be radioactive, even after all the fuel has been removed. Provided everything is monitored and assessed properly and health physics advice followed by the operators, there should be no need for anyone to be exposed to dangerous levels during decommissioning.
Compare and contrast nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
The process of combining two nuclei to form a heavier nucleus and thereby releasing energy is nuclear fusion. When a neutron strikes an atom of uranium-235, the atom captures the neutron, becoming an atom of uranium-236 with an excited nucleus. The U-236 nucleus vibrates rapidly and cannot hold itself together; it splits into several pieces (smaller atoms, free neutrons, etc.) in a process called nuclear fission (fission means "division"), releasing an enormous amount of heat energy and gamma rays.
What is the only naturally occurring element used for nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
Plutonium I think.
How does nuclear fission related from nuclear fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fusion:
Two or more atomic nuclei join together to form a single nucleus.
Energy is released.
Nuclear fission:
One atomic nucleus splits into two or more separate nuclei, plus other fragments.
Energy is released.
What do you mean by Nuclear Fission?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fission means that in this process the heavy nuclei are split into fragments (or fission products) when bombarded by neutrons and results in release of energy.
Where does the released nuclear energy come from during fission?
Asked by Wiki User
A combination of the strong nuclear force and the electromagnetic force. The strong nuclear force provides the initial energy to split one large nucleus into two small ones, but once the smaller nuclei have separated by a short distance because both are positively charged the electromagnetic force repels them and rapidly accelerates them to very high velocity (i.e. high kinetic energy aka high temperature).
The end products (fission fragment nuclei and neutrons) have a slightly smaller mass than the mass of the original nucleus. If you plug the amount of lost mass into the equation E = M c**2, the result calculated will be exactly equal to the kinetic energy gained by the end products. So the energy came from a small part of the original mass.
So wording it another way, the energy release is driven by the strong nuclear force and the electromagnetic force, but the energy itself was released by the conversion of matter to energy.
BTW, the energy released in chemical reactions also come from matter to energy conversion, but as the energy is much smaller the lost mass is also much smaller (and usually undetectable).
What are the products of nuclear fission and fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
The nuclear fission and/or fusion results in loss of mass (or mass defect) that transforms into energy according to formula E = mc2 (c is light velocity). The resulting energy manifests itself as heat energy that produces steam. The steam spins the turbines that spins electric generators and hence producing electricity.
How can nuclear fission be slowed?
Asked by Wiki User
Yes, by introducing a neutron absorber such as boron. In a nuclear reactor this is done by inserting the control rods
What is the main difference between breeder nuclear fission and convention nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
In breeder nuclear fission more fuel is produced than what consumed. In conventional nuclear fission less fuel is produced than what is consumed.
What is the process of the production of lighter nuclei from heavier nuclei called. Nuclear radiation nuclear force fusion or fission?
Asked by TaylorM9615
Nuclear fission
What particle is used to start nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
In actuality, a spontaneous fission event begins a nuclear chain reaction. It kick starts a nuclear chain reaction. And a neutron from that fission will initiate another fission to continue and rev up that nuclear chain reaction.
What are the step by step explanation of the process of nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
The process of nuclear fission involves the coming together of smaller atoms to make larger atoms. During this process energy or heat is created by the joining of these atoms.
Do nuclear fission or fusion is caused by the suns energy?
Asked by Wiki User
yes, it is.. when two hydrogen atoms combine to form a helium atom, high amount of energy is liberated both in the form of Heat and light...
What happens to a nucleus during nuclear fission process?
Asked by Wiki User
They just stay around, being stopped in the fuel rod material. Some are highly radioactive and constitute the high level waste, but if the fuel rods are stored intact, as normally happens with commercial reactors, they just remain in the rods indefinitely.
What is the starting material for nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
You must not ask "what element", but "what isotope". Uranium-235 is one example of an ISOTOPE that is appropriate for nuclear fission. Uranium-238 is the same for chemical reactions, but for purposes of nuclear reactions, different isotopes must be considered to be different types of atoms.
How can you obtain energy from nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
What is the difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fission is the breakup of an atom. In nature this is usually spontaneous, but in nuclear reactors it is almost always caused by the absorption of an extra neutron.
Nulcear fusion is the combination of two (or more, but almost always two) atoms to form a new atom.
Fusion is where you take to atoms and combine them together with enough heat to fuse them and create another atom + neutron + released energy.
Fission is where a neutron is fired at an unstable large atom nuclei to cause it to break down into two smaller nuclei and 2 - 3 more neutrons, also releasing energy.
At the moment, on earth, we use nuclear fission is nuclear power stations as it does not need a high temperature to overcome the repelling nature of the two positively charged nuclei in fusion.
Nuclear fission is splitting an atomic nucleus into smaller particles, including at least one new nucleus.
Nuclear fusion is forcing two atomic nuclei together to form one atomic nucleus.
Can the chain reaction of nuclear fission be stopped or controlled?
Asked by Wiki User
The chain reaction can be controlled, and it can be stopped. It is controlled in a nuclear power plant, and it is stopped when the plant shuts down, as it does periodically for refueling.
What can be used to absorb neutrons to control the chain reaction during nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
Boron is most commonly used, mixed to make an alloy with steel which is used for the control rods. Soluble boron can also be used mixed with the reactor primary water, but this is for more long term reactivity adjustment. Other good neutron absorbers are cadmium and hafnium.
