Fission And Fusion Flashcards
What do nuclear power stations use as energy source
How
Uranium produces heat energy in reactor,
Controlled chain reaction (Fission)
Heat creates steam from water
Steam turns turbine
Turbine turns generator to produce electricity
How does the uranium release heat energy in a nuclear reaction (fission)
Absorbing a neutron causes uranium atom to split
This releases heat energy and more neutrons
The neutrons cause more uranium nuclei to split
Chain reaction continues
When using uranium in small scale fission, what atoms are formed
Barium nucleus and krypton nucleus
These are radioactive (waste)
In large scale fission what is a nuclear bomb
Chain reaction that has gone out of control
Results in one powerful burst of energy (in heat)
There are many billions of reactions per second
What is fusion
Two small atomic nuclei joining together (fusing) to form larger ones
Releases lots of energy
What condition is needed for fusion
Very high temperatures
Why is fusion suitable for use for energy for the future
Produces less pollution than a fission reactor
Why is fusion unsuitable for use for energy for the future
Needs very high temperature so is very costly
More energy is used to create needed temperatures and pressures than is obtained so is inefficient
Components of power stations could get too hot, causing safety issues
Explain cold fusion
Two scientists thought they had managed to get fusion to work at room temperature
It is not accepted as no one else has managed this
How are H bombs made
Reactions
By fusion
However it is often difficult to obtain high temperatures needed so a fission bomb is used to start the fusion reaction
What do conventional power stations use for fuels
Fossil fuels ie. Coal, oil,gas