Nuclear Fission & Fusion

Question 1

What is nuclear fission

Answer 1

A large atomic nucleus splitting into smaller nuclei

Question 2

What are the nuclei called

Answer 2

Daughter nuclei

Question 3

How are chain reactions linked with nuclear fission

Answer 3

Nuclear fission can cause 2 or 3 neutrons to explode out of the fission reaction and cause further fission reactions

Question 4

Name the parts of a fission reactor

Answer 4

Nuclear Fuel - Held in rods so that the neutrons released will fly out and cause nuclear fission in other rods

Graphite Core - Slows the neutrons down so that they are more likely to be absorbed into a nearby fuel rod

Control Rods - Raised and lowered to stop neutrons from travelling between fuel rods and therefore change the speed of the
chain reaction

Coolant - Heated up by the energy released from the fission reactions and is used to boil water to drive
turbines in the power station

Concrete Shield - Daughter products of the fission reaction are radioactive
and can be a hazard

Question 5

What is nuclear fusion

Answer 5

When 2 small, light nuclei fuse into one heavy nucleus

Question 6

Give an example of nuclear fusion

Answer 6

When 4 hydrogen nuclei joint into one helium nuclei