4.8 Fission And Fusion

Question 1

Nuclear fission

Answer 1

“The splitting of a heavy nucleus into a lighter nuclei with the release of energy”

Question 2

Nuclear fusion

Answer 2

“The joining together of two light nuclei to form one heavier more stable nucleus which releases energy”

Question 3

Conditions required for fusion

Answer 3

“Nuclei must be confined within a finite volume at a sufficient temperature to increase the chances of collision with sufficient energy to overcome the electrostatic repulsion”

Question 4

Fission process

Answer 4

1. Neutron absorbed by the nucleus, becomes unstable.
2. Nucleus is split into two large fission fragments
   3.The mass decrease was appreciable
   4.Other neutrons, called fission neutrons are emitted in the process which can produce more fission