Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Question 1

Nuclear Fission

Answer 1

Nuclear Fission is a nuclear reaction where a larger nucleus is split into two or more, smaller nuclei. Nuclear fission releases a huge amount of energy. This is why a nuclear fission reaction is the type of reaction that is used to produce energy in a nuclear power plant. Fission can be spontaneous or caused by neutrons.

For example, I have an atom which I want to split. I bombard a neutron at the atom. The atom absorbs this neutron, transforms into another atom. This atom is unstable and due to this unstable state, it splits into two atoms and releases 3 neutrons.

Question 2

Daughter Nucleus

Answer 2

Daughter Nucleus is the name used to describe the smaller nuclei produced.

Question 3

Neutron-induced nuclear fission

Answer 3

The neutron was the cause of the fission. A neutron is fired towards a large nucleus, the neutron is absorbed into the nucleus. The extra neutron causes the nucleus to become unstable and then it splits into fragments (usually two smaller daughter nuclei that are roughly the same size as each other).

Question 4

Fission Chain Reaction

Answer 4

From the neutrons that are PRODUCED from a fission reaction, if there are more suitable nuclei nearby those neutrons will spark another fission reaction, which will release more neutrons and so on. This is called a fission chain reaction. This is what the mouse trap demonstration is showing.

Question 5

Nuclear Fusion

Answer 5

Nuclear fusion is a nuclear reaction when two smaller nuclei combine make a larger nucleus. During the process of nuclear fusion a lot of energy is released. This is the type of nuclear reaction that occurs in stars. Note that nuclear fusion happens with much smaller nuclei compared to nuclear fission.