Nuclear fission and fusion
I can explain how energy can be transferred from the nuclei of atoms to cause heating.
Nuclear fission and fusion
I can explain how energy can be transferred from the nuclei of atoms to cause heating.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Nuclear fission is the splitting of a large and unstable nucleus such as uranium or plutonium.
- A neutron fired at a uranium nucleus can cause nuclear fission that splits the nucleus and emits 2 or 3 more neutrons.
- The motion of all the particles shot out from a nuclear fission can cause heating by making other particles move faster.
- Neutrons shot out from a nuclear fission can split more uranium nuclei in a chain reaction.
- Nuclear fusion is the joining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus with the creation of gamma radiation.
Keywords
Nuclear fission - the splitting of large nuclei to form pairs of smaller nuclei and some free neutrons, with the release of energy
Daughter nuclei - the smaller nuclei produced during nuclear fission
Chain reaction - a series of nuclear fission events, with each one triggered by a neutron from a previous nuclear fission
Nuclear fusion - the combining of small nuclei at very high temperatures with the release of energy
Common misconception
Radioactive isotopes disappear when they decay, so that in one half-life half the mass is lost.
Emphasise that the mass of the nuclei at the end of a nuclear fission or fusion are almost identical to the masses of those at the start. There is a very small difference, with mass being converted to energy according to E = mc².
Equipment
None required.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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