nucleur fission and fusion Flashcards
1
Q
what is nuclear fission
A
the splitting up of big atomic nuclei
2
Q
what causes fission to take place
A
a neutron absorbing into a nucleus, making it unstable and causing it to split
3
Q
what happens during fission
A
-when the unstable nucleus splits, a few neutrons get spat out, causing a chain reaction
4
Q
what is nuclear fusion
A
the joining of small atomic nuclei
5
Q
what is a pro of fission
A
-gives out a lot of energy
6
Q
what are the cons of fission
A
- hard to dispose of waste
- highly radioactive
- radiation leaks
7
Q
what are the pros of fusion
A
- releases a lot of energy
- doesn’t leave much waste
8
Q
what are the cons of fusion
A
-only works at high temperatures
