Nuclear Reactions
Fission and Fusion
FISSION
The splitting of an atomic nucleus into 2 smaller particles.Animation
All nuclei with 83 or more protons are unstable.
FISSION
During fission tremendous amounts of ENERGY are produced from very small amounts of MASS.
Chain ReactionNeutrons released during the
splitting of the first nucleus trigger many more nuclear fissions.
Critical MassThe SMALLEST possible
mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction.
Controlled reactions
Occur in nuclear power plants
Animation
Uncontrolled reactions
Occur in atomic bombs
Animation
FUSIONThe process of COMBINING
two smaller nuclei into ONE
larger nucleus.
FUSION
This process losses even more mass than FISSION, and therefore releases more ENERGY.
At the present time, this means that very high temperatures are required for fusion to occur.
Animation
SIMILARITIES between fission and fusion Both are nuclear reactions (involve the
nuclei of atoms) Both convert a very small amount of mass
into an extremely large amount of
ENERGY.
DIFFERENCESBETWEEN
FISSIONAND
FUSION
FISSION• Involves splitting atoms
(One becomes two)
• Is currently possible
FUSIONInvolves fusing atoms (joining two and making one)
• Requires extremely high temperatures
• Not currently possible