Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion Flashcards
what happens to atomic nuclei in nuclear fission?
They split
What happens to the atomic nuclei in nuclear fusion?
They join together.
What process is involved in the life cycle of a star?
Nuclear fusion.
Name two fissionable substances for nuclear reactions
Uranium-235 and plutonium-239.
For fission to occur, the substances must first absorb
a neutron.
During nuclear fission, what’s produced?
Two smaller nuclei and two or three neutrons(also energy is released).
what could potentially happen in a nuclear fission reaction?
A chain reaction.
How do stars form?
When enough dust and gas from space is pulled together by gravitational attraction.
Life cycle of a star(larger than our sun)
Helium and hydrogen fuse to form a Protostar.The fusion of gravity working against and nuclear reactants working towards for billions of years(main sequence). It burns until the hydrogen runs out with the fusion of small nuclei, creating a red SUPER giant. The super giant explodes as energy runs out forming a supanova(scattering elements).The supanova either becomes a neutron star or a black hole.
Life cycle of a star(same as sun)
Gravity pulls hydrogen and helium together so they’re able to bond.They become a huge mass(protostar). A process called fusion occurs and forces from nuclear reactions push outwards and forces from gravity push inwards(main sequence star). They burn for billions of years until the hydrogen runs out.The star grows in heat and size(red giant) until it collapsesdue to gravity and becomes a white dwarf and eventually a black dwarf.
