Fission Flashcards
1
Q
What are the isotopes commonly used?
A
- 235U
- 239Pu
2
Q
What is induced fission?
A
- where the nucleus of an isotope is bombared by neutrons and neutrons are absorbed
3
Q
What are fission neutrons?
A
- neutrons released in fission event
- capable of causing a further fission event
4
Q
What is a chain reaction>
A
- chain reaction therefore possible in which fission neutrons produce firther fission events which release fission events and cause further fission events
5
Q
How is energy released in a fission event?
A
- occurs because the fragments repel each other as they are both positively charged with enough force to overcome the strong nuclear force holding them together
- fragment nuclei and fission neutrons gain Ek
- binding energy per nucleon increases
6
Q
WHen does fusion occur?
A
- nuclear fusion can only take place if the two nuclei that are to be combined collide at high speed
- necessary to overcome electrostatic repulsion between the two nuclei so they can become close enough to interact through SNF
7
Q
How is solar energy produced?
A
- fusion
- high temp strips protons of electrons, referred to as plasma
- nuclei move at high speed because of temperature
- large enough to overcome electrostatic force