Particles and Waves: Nuclear Reactions

Question 1

What is the mass number

Answer 1

Number of protons and neutrons

Question 2

What is the atomic number

Answer 2

number of protons in the nucleus

Question 3

What is spontaneous decay

Answer 3

When a heavy nucleus disintergrates into two nuclei of smaller mass number

Question 4

What elements decay sontaneosly

Answer 4

mass number > 230

Question 5

Induced decay

Answer 5

fission induced by neutron bombardment

Question 6

Is the total mass before fission greater than the total mass after?

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

How is the energy carried away in fission reactions

Answer 7

as the kinetic energy of the fission products

Question 8

E=mc^2

Answer 8

Energy = mass difference (total mass b4 fission - total mass after fission) x speed of light^2

Question 9

What is a chain reaction

Answer 9

A chain reaction occurs in a nuclear reactor when each fission event causes further fission events

Question 10

what is nuclear fusion

Answer 10

a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy

Question 11

in fusion is the total mass after the reaction less or more than the total mass before?

Answer 11

less

Question 12

what conditions are needed for fusion reactions

Answer 12

• charged particles at v high temps (plasma) which have to be contained in magnetic fields and evan energy confinement time of 4-6 seconds