Nuclear decay and nuclear energy Flashcards
What is nuclear fission?
When an atom has unstable neutrons and protons, it breaks apart. It’ll split apart and release 3 neutrons that’ll possibly cause 3 more reactions. It releases energy.
What are nuclei that can undergo nuclear fission called?
Fissile nuclei
What does a nuclear reactor create?
Huge amounts of heat energy which can be used to generate electricity.
Comparison between nuclear fuel and that of coal?
1kg of fuel - 83,000,000,000,000J of energy
1kg of coal - 35,000,000J of energy
So fuel is a money making business
What is the problem with nuclear reactors?
They produce radioactive waste with very long half lives (typically hundreds of thousands of years) and will remain dangerously radioactive for a very long time. Nuclear waste requires extremely secure long term storage.
What do moderators in a nuclear plant do?
Acts to slow down the fast moving neutrons produced by the fission process, so that they can cause further fission.
What do control rods in a nuclear plant do?
Neutron absorbing rods that can be moved up and down to control the number of slow neutrons there are inside the fuel rods.
What is nuclear fusion?
Nuclear fusion is when two small, light nuclei join together to make one heavy nucleus. Fusion reactions occur in stars where two hydrogen nuclei fuse together under high temperatures and pressure to form a nucleus of a helium isotope.
What is necessary for fusion to take place?
Very high temperatures are required which is difficult to achieve, let alone control.
Problems of containment in fusion/fission reactors?
Neutron and gamma shielding, and pressure containment in fusion reactors.
