Nuclear Fission And Fusion Flashcards
How do nuclear power stations generate electricity?
Using nuclear reactors
How does a nuclear reactor work?
A controlled chain reaction takes place in which atomic nuclei split
Up and release energy in the form of heat
This heat is used to heat water to produce steam which is used to drive a steam turbine which is connected to an electricity generator
What is the fuel that is normally split in a nuclear power station?
Mostly uranium 234
Sometimes plutonium 239
What is nuclear fission?
The splitting of large nuclei
What must happen before nuclear fusion can take place?
A slow moving neutron must be absorbed into a uranium or plutonium nucleus. The addition of this neutron makes the nucleus unstable causing it to split
What do uranium and plutonium give off everything they split?
Two or three neutrons
One of which might hit another nucleus causing it to split and starting a chain reaction
Why are the two smaller nuclei formed in fission usually radioactive?
Because they don’t have the right number of neutrons in them
What else is given out during fission?
A LOT of energy (much more than is given off in any chemical reaction)
What is the main problem with nuclear power?
The disposal of waste as the products left over from fission are highly radioactive so can’t just be thrown away (difficult and expensive to dispose of properly)
Where can radioactive waste be safely stored?
In glass steel or concrete containers
Why is the overall cost of nuclear power high despite nuclear fuel being cheap?
The high cost or the power plant and dismantling a nuclear plant safely takes decades
What is nuclear fusion?
When two smaller nuclei join to create a larger nucleus
How much energy does fusion release?
More than fission for a given mass
By what process to stars obtain their energy?
Fusion
What is an advantage of fusion?
It doesn’t leave behind a lot of radioactive waste like fission and hydrogen can be used as a fuel
