Nuclear fission and fusion are two types of nuclear reactions that release energy. Fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones, as occurs in nuclear reactors powered by uranium-235. Fusion combines light nuclei into heavier ones and produces even more energy, as happens in hydrogen bombs and in stars like the Sun. Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth remains a scientific challenge.
Nuclear fission and fusion are two types of nuclear reactions that release energy. Fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones, as occurs in nuclear reactors powered by uranium-235. Fusion combines light nuclei into heavier ones and produces even more energy, as happens in hydrogen bombs and in stars like the Sun. Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth remains a scientific challenge.
Nuclear fission and fusion are two types of nuclear reactions that release energy. Fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones, as occurs in nuclear reactors powered by uranium-235. Fusion combines light nuclei into heavier ones and produces even more energy, as happens in hydrogen bombs and in stars like the Sun. Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth remains a scientific challenge.
Nuclear fission and fusion are two types of nuclear reactions that release energy. Fission involves splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones, as occurs in nuclear reactors powered by uranium-235. Fusion combines light nuclei into heavier ones and produces even more energy, as happens in hydrogen bombs and in stars like the Sun. Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth remains a scientific challenge.
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“Learn” from the BEST Nuclear Fission The process of splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei of comparable masses (after bombardment with a energetic particle) with liberation of energy is called nuclear fission.
The phenomenon of nuclear fission was discovered
by scientist Otto Hahn and F. Strassmann and was explained by N. Bohr and J.A. Wheeler. Consider the fission reaction
92U → X117 + Y117 + 0n1 + 0n1
236
i.e. two nuclei of same mass number 117
are formed plus two neutrons. The binding energy per nucleon of X and Y is 8.5 MeV where as of U236 is 7.6 MeV. The total energy liberated will be about -
A. 2 MeV B. 20 MeV C. 200 MeV D. 2000 MeV Fission Reaction of U235
200 MeV or 0.8 MeV per nucleon. Fission Reaction of U235
Some other U235 fission reactions are
3. By fission of 92U 235 , on an average 2.5 neutrons are liberated. Fission Reaction of U235
Neutrons produced here are called fast neutrons
and their energy is about 2 MeV (for each).
These fast neutrons can escape from the reaction
hence to proceed the reaction they need to be slowed down.
4. Fission of U235 occurs by slow neutrons only
(of energy about 1 eV) or even by thermal neutrons (of energy about 0.025 eV). Chain Reaction
Under favourable conditions, three neutrons produced,
can cause further fission of other nuclei, producing large number of neutrons.
Thus a chain of nuclear fissions is established which
continues until the whole of the uranium is consumed. Chain Reaction 50 kg of U235 on fission will release ≈ 4 × 1015 J of energy. This is equivalence to 20,000 tonnes of TNT explosion.
The nuclear bomb dropped at Hiroshima had
this much explosion power. Chain Reaction
Most of energy released appears in the form of
kinetic energy of fission fragments. Difficulties in Chain Reaction
Natural Uranium is U238 (99.3%), U235 (0.7%).
U238 is fissionable with fast neutrons,
whereas U235 is fissionable with slow neutrons.
neutrons get slowed on colliding with U238
as a result of it further fission of U238 is not possible (Because they are slow and they are absorbed by U238).
This stops the chain reaction.
Removal If neutrons are slowed down by any method to an energy of about 0.3 eV, then the probability of their absorption by U238 becomes very low, while the probability of their fissioning U235 becomes high.
Moderator : used to slow down the fast moving neutrons.
moderators are graphite and heavy water (D2O). Removal
Critical size : The neutrons emitted during fission are very fast and they travel a large distance before being slowed down.
If the size of the fissionable material is small, the neutrons
emitted will escape the fissionable material before they are slowed down. Hence chain reaction cannot be sustained. Nuclear Reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear fission can be
carried out through a sustained and a controlled chain reaction. Parts of Nuclear Reactor Fissionable material : fuel of the reactor. Uranium isotope (U235) Thorium isotope (Th232) and Plutonium isotopes (Pu239, Pu240 and Pu241) Parts of Nuclear Reactor Protective shield : shield in the form a concrete thick wall surrounds the core of the reactor to save the persons working around the reactor from the hazardous radiations.
Control Material : to control the chain reaction
This material controls the number of neutrons available for the fission. Cadmium rods can absorb the neutrons.
Coolant : a cooling material which removes the
heat generated due to fission in the reactor. Commonly used coolants are water, CO2 nitrogen etc. Neutron Reproduction Factor The chain reaction once started will remain steady, accelerate or retard depending upon, a factor called neutron reproduction factor (k).
rate of production of neutrons
(k) = rate of loss of neutrons
→ If k = 1, the chain reaction will be steady. The size of the fissionable
material used is said to be the critical size and its mass, the critical mass. → If k > 1, the chain reaction accelerates, resulting in an explosion. The size of the material in this case is super critical. (Atom bomb) → If k < 1, the chain reaction gradually comes to a halt. The size of the material used us said to be sub-critical. Controlled Chain Reaction Uncontrolled Chain Reaction
Controlled by artificial method No control over this type of
nuclear reaction
All neurons are absorbed More than one neutron takes part except one into reaction
It's rate is slow Fast Rate
Reproduction factor k = 1 Reproduction factor k > 1
Energy liberated in this type of A large amount of energy is
reaction is always less than liberated in this type of reaction explosive energy
Chain reaction is the principle Uncontrolled chain reaction is the
of nuclear reactors principle of atom bomb. Which element is used for making atom bomb
A. Ra226 B. U234 C. U238 D. Pu239
➔ Plutonium is the best fuel as compared to other
fissionable material because fission in Plutonium can be initiated by both slow and fast neutrons. Moreover it can be obtained from U238. Fast Breader Reactors
The atomic reactor in which fresh fissionable fuel (Pu239) is produced along with energy. The amount of produced fuel (Pu239) is more than consumed fuel (U235) ➔ Fuel : Natural Uranium. ➔ Process: During fission of U235, energy and secondary neutrons are produced. These secondary neutrons are absorbed by U238 and U239 is formed. This U239 converts into Pu239 after two beta decay. This Pu239 can be separated, its half life is 2400 years. 92U 238 + n1 ⟶ 92U 94Pu 239 ⟶ 239 (best fuel of fission) 0
This Pu239 can be used in nuclear weapons because of its small critical size than U235. ➔ Moderator : Are not used in these reactors. ➔ Coolant : Liquid sodium Nuclear Fusion
In nuclear fusion two or more than two lighter nuclei
combine to form a single heavy nucleus. Nuclear Fusion The mass of single nucleus so formed is less than the sum of the masses of parent nuclei.
This difference in mass results in the release of
tremendous amount of energy Required Condition For Nuclear Fusion
Nuclei not able to get close enough for fusion due to
Electrostatic Repulsion Required Condition For Nuclear Fusion
High pressure ≈ (106 atm) and
High temperature (of the order of 107 K to 108 K) is required and so the reaction is called thermonuclear reaction. Plasma
The temperature of the order of 108 K required for
thermonuclear reactions leads to the complete ionisation of the atom of light elements. The combination of base nuclei and electron cloud is called Plasma. Nuclear Fusion
Fusion energy is greater than fission energy fission of one
uranium atom releases about 200 MeV of energy.
But the fusion of a deuteron (1H2) and triton (1H3) releases
about 17.6 MeV of energy.
However the energy released per nucleon in fission is about
0.85 MeV but that in fusion is 4.4 MeV.
So for the same mass of the fuel, the energy released in fusion is much larger than in fission. Nuclear Bomb Based on uncontrolled nuclear reactions.
Atom bomb Hydrogen bomb
Based on fission process it involves the fission Based on fusion process. Mixture of deutron of U235 and tritium is used in it
In this critical size is important There is no limit to critical size
Explosion is possible at normal temperature and
High temperature and pressure are required pressure
Less energy is released compared to hydrogen More energy is released as compared to atom bomb bomb so it is more dangerous than atom bomb Pair Production
When an energetic γ-ray photon is absorbed by a nucleus
and an electron and a positron are produced. This phenomenon is called pair production Pair Production
may be represented by the following equation:
The rest-mass energy of each of positron and electron is
E0 = m0c2 = (9.1 x 10–31 kg) x (3.0 x 108 m/s)2 = 8.2 x 10–14 J = 0.51 MeV
Hence, for pair-production it is essential that the energy of
⋎-photon must be at least 2 x 0.51 = 1.02 MeV. If the energy of ⋎-photon is less than this, it would cause photo-electric effect on striking the matter. Pair-Annihilation The converse phenomenon also possible. Whenever an electron and a positron come very close to each other, they annihilate each other by combining together and two ⋎-photons (energy) are produced. This phenomenon is called pair annihilation and is represented by the following equation.
Annihilation: complete destruction
When an electron and positron with equal speeds in opposite direction annihilate each other, they cannot produce just one gamma ray, because that will violate law of
A. conservation of charge
B. conservation of energy C. conservation of momentum
D. conservation of nucleon number
When an electron-positron pair annihilates, the energy released is A. 1.6 × 10–13 J B. 3.2 × 10–13 J C. 0.8 × 10–13 J D. 4 × 10–13 J Difference between nuclear fission and fusion is -
A. Neutrons are required for fission while protons for fusion
B. Fission is possible at normal temperature and pressure
while fusion at very high temperature and pressure
C. Released energy in fission is small while in fusion it is big
D. all the above
Ans: D In fission the percentage of mass converted into energy is about -
A. 0.01% B. 0.1% C. 1% D. 10%
Ans: B Neutron ratio (available/used) r per fission in atomic reactor an atom bomb are- A. r > 1 in atomic reactor and r < 1 in bomb B. r = 1 in atomic reactor and r > 1 in bomb C. r > 1 in both atomic reactor and bomb D. r < 1 in both atomic reactor and bomb
Ans: B #JEELiveDaily Schedule
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