Nuclear Fission/Fusion

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Fission = splitting

Nuclear fission = the process of splitting a nucleus

Nuclear reactors use a type of nuclear reaction called nuclear fission. Another type of nuclear reaction - nuclear fusion - happens in the Sun and other stars.

common isotopes used in this are URANIUM 235 & PLUTONIUM 239

They are commonly used because they have LARGE NUCLEI and are EASY TO SPLIT when hit with NEUTRONS

WHEN HIT WITH A NEUTRON

nucleus splits into 2 smaller nuclei; these are radioactive

two or three neutrons are released

some energy is released

Additional nuclei released can also hit other uranium or plutonium nuclei and cause them to split. This will continue to cause more release of neutron particles which will further lead to more nuclei being split. THIS IS CALLED A CHAIN REACTION, these are controlled in nuclear reactors to stop it going too fast.

Fusion = merging

Nuclear fusion = involves two atomic nuclei fusing to make one large nucleus, energy is released.

The sun and other stars use this to release energy