Nuclear fission and fusion both release large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei after absorbing a neutron. Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. A chain reaction can be produced during fission where one neutron causes multiple fissions and the release of more neutrons. Controlled chain reactions are used in nuclear power plants while uncontrolled ones are used in nuclear weapons. Both fission and fusion involve a loss of mass that is converted to a huge amount of energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula of E=mc2.
Nuclear fission and fusion both release large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei after absorbing a neutron. Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. A chain reaction can be produced during fission where one neutron causes multiple fissions and the release of more neutrons. Controlled chain reactions are used in nuclear power plants while uncontrolled ones are used in nuclear weapons. Both fission and fusion involve a loss of mass that is converted to a huge amount of energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula of E=mc2.
Nuclear fission and fusion both release large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei after absorbing a neutron. Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. A chain reaction can be produced during fission where one neutron causes multiple fissions and the release of more neutrons. Controlled chain reactions are used in nuclear power plants while uncontrolled ones are used in nuclear weapons. Both fission and fusion involve a loss of mass that is converted to a huge amount of energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula of E=mc2.
Nuclear fission and fusion both release large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei after absorbing a neutron. Nuclear fusion occurs when two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. A chain reaction can be produced during fission where one neutron causes multiple fissions and the release of more neutrons. Controlled chain reactions are used in nuclear power plants while uncontrolled ones are used in nuclear weapons. Both fission and fusion involve a loss of mass that is converted to a huge amount of energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula of E=mc2.
❑ Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two
lighter nuclei ❑ Fission occurs when the nucleus of an atom is bombarded with a neutron. Nuclear Fission ❑ The energy of the neutron causes the target nucleus to split into two (or more) nuclei that are lighter than the parent nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy during the process.
❑ Example: Nuclear Fusion
❑ Nuclear fusion is the combining of two lighter nuclei to
form a heavier nucleus, releasing a vast amount of energy during the process ❑ Nuclear fusion is believed to be the process by which energy is released by the Sun. Nuclear Fusion ❑ When two hydrogen-2 nuclei moving at high speeds collide, they can join together to produce heavier nucleus.
❑ A large amount of energy is released.
❑ A hydrogen bomb uses nuclear fusion for its design 5 6 Chain Reaction ❑ In the fission reactions, one neutron starts the fission process, but three neutrons are produced. ❑ If one of these neutrons bombards another uranium-235 nucleus then more fissions will occur, releasing more neutrons. A chain reaction is produced. Chain Reaction ❑ A chain reaction is a self-sustaining reaction in which the products of a reaction can initiate another similar reaction. ❑ The heat released is harnessed and used to generate electrical energy ❑ A controlled chain reaction is used in nuclear power stations ❑ An uncontrolled chain reaction is used in nuclear bombs. ❑ For chain reaction to occur, the sample of uranium must have a certain minimum mass known as critical mass ❑ The neutrons produced in a fission reaction are very fast neutrons. Slower neutrons are more easily captured by the uranium nuclei. ❑ Graphite can act as moderators to slow down the neutrons so the chain reaction to occur at a smaller critical mass Nuclear Energy ❑ Both nuclear fission and fusion release a large amount of energy. The source of this energy is from the loss of mass in nuclear reactions. ❑ The sum of the masses of the particles before the reaction is more than the sum of the masses of the particles after the reaction. ❑ Mass defect = sum of the masses before reaction – sum of the masses after reaction ❑ Mass and energy can be exchanged one for the other. ❑ A loss of mass in a nuclear reaction means that the mass had changed to energy. ❑ The relationship between the mass and the energy: E = mc2 where E = energy released, in joules, J m = loss of mass or mass defect, in kg c = speed of light = 3.0 x 108 m/s Example Example Example Example Example
