Fission and Fusion Flashcards
Atomic Structure (13 cards)
What is nuclear fission?
A type of nuclear reaction that releases energy by splitting large, unstable atoms like uranium or plutonium into smaller atoms.
Nuclear fission is crucial for nuclear power generation and atomic bombs.
What typically needs to happen before a nucleus will split in nuclear fission?
The nucleus usually has to absorb a neutron.
This absorption initiates the fission process.
What are the products of nuclear fission?
Two new lighter elements and two or three neutrons.
The lighter elements are roughly the same size as the original nucleus.
What happens to the neutrons released during nuclear fission?
They can cause more fission to occur if they are absorbed by another nucleus, leading to a chain reaction.
This chain reaction is essential for sustaining nuclear reactions in reactors.
What type of energy is carried away when an atom splits in fission?
The energy not transferred to the kinetic energy stores of the products is carried away by gamma rays.
Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation.
How is the energy produced by fission used in power generation?
It is used to heat water, making steam to turn turbines and generators.
This process is fundamental in nuclear power plants.
How is the fission process controlled in a nuclear reactor?
By using control rods that are lowered and raised to absorb neutrons and slow down the chain reaction.
This control is crucial to prevent uncontrolled reactions that could lead to explosions.
What can happen if a chain reaction in nuclear fission is uncontrolled?
It can lead to a rapid release of energy resulting in an explosion.
This principle is utilized in the design of nuclear weapons.
What is nuclear fusion?
The process where two light nuclei collide at high speed and fuse to create a larger, heavier nucleus.
Fusion is the process that powers the sun and other stars.
What is an example of nuclear fusion?
Hydrogen nuclei fusing to produce a helium nucleus.
This process releases significant amounts of energy.
What happens to the mass of the light nuclei during fusion?
Some of the mass is converted to energy and released.
This conversion of mass to energy is described by Einstein’s equation E=mc².
Which releases more energy: fission or fusion?
Fusion releases more energy for a given mass of fuel than fission.
This high energy yield is why fusion is considered for future energy generation despite current challenges.
What challenges do scientists face with nuclear fusion?
The temperatures and pressures needed for fusion are extremely high, making reactors hard and expensive to build.
As of now, practical fusion energy generation remains a significant scientific challenge.
