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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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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