Fission And Fusion Flashcards
What is gamma radiation
High energy electromagnetic waves (pure energy, no mass, no particle)
When does gamma radiation occur
When it is given off by the sun and by nuclear reactions
What is beta particle and what is it made of
A beta particle is high energy electron
When does a beta particle occur
It occurs when an atom undergoes beta decay
What happens to create a beta particle
Beta particles are created when a neutron converts itself into a proton by spitting out an electron
What is an alpha particle made of
Two protons and two neutrons l.
When does an alpha particle occur
It occurs in alpha decay when there are too many protons in a nucleus and the electromagnetic repulsion pushes some of them out of the nucleus
What type of radiation had the greatest penetrating ability
Gamma radiation
What type of radiation has the least penetrating ability
Alpha
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what will happen to the mass and what element will form
Mass stays the same 234 and it turns into thorium
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what will happen to the mass and what will it turn into
The mass stays the same, 234 and turns into Neptunium
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what mass of radioactive particle forms
4
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what charge of the radioactive particle forms
Plus 2
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what mass of radioactive particle forms
1/1800 amu
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what charge off the radioactive particle is formed
Negative one
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses gamma then what mass of the radioactive particle is formed
0
If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses gamma then what charge of the radioactive particle is formed
0
When inside your body what type of radioactive particle is the most dangerous and why
Alpha particles because they have a lot of mass and can hit your tissue ( in lungs and stomach) before they turn into helium
What is a half life and what is its units
Half life is the amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay ( give off radiation) and then unit is seconds minutes days months years
What is more radioactive a substance with a small half life or a big half life and why
Small half life because it gives off more radioactive particles per second. It shoots out radiation faster so it decays faster
What is transmutation
When an atom is mutated into a different element by giving off alpha or beta radiation
Explain the process of nuclear fission, and what is produced
Occurs when a large unstable atom is hit by a neutron that makes it split into two smaller atoms. The two smaller atoms are radioactive waste, gamma radiation and energy is produced
What is chain reaction
When neutrons from fissioning of one atom cause other atoms to split, spreading and growing the reaction
What must be present for chain reaction to occur
Chain reactions can happen if you hear a high concentration of fissionable uranium, much higher concentration than found in nature called enriched uranium
What is fissionable uranium
U-235 to
What is enriched uranium
Much higher concentrations of fissionable uranium than found in nature
In a nuclear reactor what controls the reaction
Control rods, they absorb the neutrons given off by the fission and it stops and slows the reaction
What are the pros of nuclear fission
No air pollution at all
What are the cons of nuclear fission
Run out of uranium
Radioactive nuclear waste is made
Possible melt down spreading radioactive material into environment
Mining uranium releases radioactive dust into environment
How is energy produced Ina fission reaction
When uranium atom splits a tiny bit of mass from each nucleon is converted into energy
How is nuclear energy transformed into electrical energy into a nuclear reactor
Heat from the splitting of atoms is absorbed by water, turning into steam and then steam turns a turbine/ generator
Explain the process of nuclear fusion
Two small atoms collide and fuse together into one large atom, needs very high temps and gives off lots of energy. No radioactive waste just helium
What must be present in order for a fusion reaction to occur
Very high temps and small atoms like hydrogen
What are the pros associated with fusion reactions
No pollution
Produces lots of energy
Lots of fuel available (H)
What are the cons of fussion reactions
We cannot do it efficiently yet
It takes more energy to do fission than get out of it
Where does fussion occur naturally
The sun
What health problems can be caused by the radioactive wave leftover from fission
Cancer, birth defects, shortened life span
What types of radiation cause these health problems
Alpha if it is inside your body because you swallowed radioactive atoms
Beta can harm your skin and surface tissues
Gamma can harm any part of your body because it penetrates all the way through
What are the major sources of the radiation we encounter
Solar radiation from the sun, radiation from the center of the earth
Alpha decay
A piece of nucleus breaks off
Beta decay
An electron breaks free
