nuclear fission and fusion

• describe nuclear fission

  splitting of large unstable nuclei
• describe common cause of nuclear fission

  absorbed neutron
• describe process of nuclear fission

  large and unstable nuclei split to two smaller nuclei, emit two or three neutrons and gamma rays and release energy
• describe chain reaction of nuclear fission

  emitted neutrons absorbed by more unstable nuclei that emit more neutrons causing more nuclear fission
• describe control of nuclear fission process

  chain reaction controlled in nuclear reactor to control energy release
• describe nuclear fusion

  joining of two light nuclei to form heavier nucleus
• describe process of nuclear fusion

  two light nuclei join to form heavier nucleus with some mass converted to energy