Nuclear Fission

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Nuclear Fission
During fission, a nucleus breaks into two
smaller nuclei
-A small amount of matter is turned into a
LARGE amount of energy when it splits apart
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energy
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Nuclear Fission
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More Nuclear Fission
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and more nuclear fission
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• Nuclear Chain Reactions
• A neutron is required to start the fission of the
  uranium
• The reaction produces more neutrons
• These neutrons then start more fission reactions
• Which produce more neutrons
• Which start more fission reactions
• And so on

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A chain reaction
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• if the chain reaction is controlled (as in a
  nuclear power plant), we can get energy from it
• if the chain reaction is NOT controlled (as in a
  nuclear bomb), it can cause great destruction

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and one last one of nuclear fission
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• Nuclear Energy
• Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are the main fuels
  in nuclear reactors
• Water is heated by the nuclear fission of the
  fuel
• and it turns water into steam which
• turns a generator (producing electricity)

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Nuclear Power Plant
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• One gram of uranium-235 produces as much energy
  as the combustion of 2700kg of coal

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• Nuclear energy provides 20 of the U.S.s energy
• Nuclear waste is spent (used up) fuel
• PROBLEM It must be stored safely until it is no
  longer very radioactive

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• Nuclear Fusion
• Two nuclei combine (fuse) to form one nucleus
• -A small amount of matter is turned into a LARGE
  amount of energy

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energy
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Nuclear Fusion
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More Nuclear Fusion
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• Requires very high temperatures (like in the Sun)
• Not used in power plants because it is very
  difficult for us to control
• Fusion reactions in the Sun create elements as
  big as iron

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