nuclear fission

• what is nuclear fission?

  the splitting of a large and unstable nucleus (e.g. uranium or plutonium)
• spontaneous fission is ...

  rare
• how does fission occur?

  the unstable nucleus must first absorb a neutron
• what happens to the nucleus undergoing fission?

  1. splits into 2 smaller nuclei, roughly equal in size
  2. and emits 2 or 3 neutron plus gamma rays
  3. energy is released by the fission reaction
• what do all of the fission products have?

  kinetic energy
• what is the nuclear fission chain reaction controlled by and why?

  in a nuclear reactor to control the energy released
• what is the explosion of a nuclear weapon caused by?

  an uncontrolled chain reaction
• how do we get nuclear energy?

  nuclear fission
• what are the two ways nuclear fission can occur?

  • spontaneously
  • absorbing a neutron