7.1 Nuclear fission Flashcards
What is nuclear fission
The splitting of atoms into two equal segments
When does nuclear fission occur?
when a neutron hits an uranium- 235 nucleus or a plutonium- 239 nucleus and the nucleus splits
What is a chain reaction?
when neutron from, the fission go on to cause other fission events
What is nuclear fusion?
The process of forcing two nuclei close enough together so that they form a single large nucleus energy is released when 2 light nuclei are fused together this is the process by which energy is released in stars
what are the 7 sources of background radiation
radon gas seeping through the ground
cosmic rays from outer space
some food/drink
air travel
nuclear weapons testing
medical use
nuclear accidents
what is the biggest source of bg radiation?
radon gas
what kind of reaction is used in nuclear power stations
fission
give an example of a serious nuclear accident
when the chernobyl reactor exploded
after the japanese tsunami
how long does nuclear waste have to be stored and what conditions?
thousands of years
in a secure storage facility so it doesn’t enter the environment
how can workers in nuclear installations protect themselves (3)
keep as far away from the source of radiation as possible
limit time exposure
use shielding such as concrete or lead
