fission and fusion

Question 1

what is nuclear fission

Answer 1

• nuclear fission is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into 2 smaller nuclei - - which releases huge amounts of energy

Question 2

how does nuclear fission work

Answer 2

1. nuclear collides with uranium atom
2. uranium atom splits it
3. leave large amounts of energy in the form of heat and radiation

Question 3

how does nuclear power stations use nuclear fission

Answer 3

to produce energy

Question 4

when does nuclear fission occur

Answer 4

when a slow moving neutron is captured by a uranium nucleus causing the nucleus to become unstable and split into 2 (or more) smaller nuclei- daughter nuclei

Question 5

what is nuclear fusion

Answer 5

the joining or ‘fusing’ of 2 smaller nuclei into 1 larger nucleus. which releases huge amounts of energy.

Question 6

how is nuclear fission and fusion similar

Answer 6

both fission and fusion involve nuclear reactions that release large amounts of energy that can be used to produce electricity

Question 7

how is nuclear fission and fusion different

Answer 7

fission is the splitting of a heavy, unstable nucleus into 2 lighter nuclei, and fusion is when 2 light nuclei combine together releasing lots of energy