Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive nucleus into two smaller nuclei

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive nucleus into two smaller nuclei

Nuclear Fission and Energy: The splitting of atoms produces a large amount of energy. This energy is produced in nuclear power plants

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a massive nucleus into two smaller nuclei

Nuclear Fission and Energy: The splitting of atoms produces a large amount of energy. This energy is produced in nuclear power plants

Problems with nuclear power: The waste produced has to be safely stored for thousands of years.

Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear Reactions: When an atom’s nucleus changes by gaining or releasing particles or energy.

Particles released: Protons, neutrons and or electrons

Particles released in nuclear reactions

Rules for writing nuclear equations

• The sum of the mass numbers must be the same on both sides

• The sum of the charges (atomic number) must be the same.

Fission reaction

Chain reactions and weapons

• Chain reaction: when one fission reaction stimulates the next reaction (eg a neutron from one will join to another nuclei causing it to split)

Chain Reaction

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Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Fusion: The opposite of nuclear fission- When two smaller nuclei fuse to form one

larger one