Nuclear Fission Diagrams Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

On a diagram of a single fission event, how many neutrons should be shown leaving the splitting nucleus?

Two or three.

True or false? On a fission diagram the two product nuclei should be drawn as one large nucleus and one very small nucleus.

False. The two smaller nuclei are roughly equal in size.

How is the release of energy shown on a nuclear fission diagram?

By gamma rays (wavy arrows) leaving, and by the product nuclei and neutrons moving away with kinetic energy.

What are the steps to draw a diagram of one fission event?

e.g. a uranium nucleus absorbing a neutron

1. Draw a neutron with an arrow moving into the large uranium nucleus.
2. Draw two smaller nuclei of roughly equal size moving apart.
3. Draw two or three neutrons and gamma rays leaving.

What are the steps to draw a diagram showing a chain reaction?

e.g. starting with one neutron and uranium nuclei

1. Draw the first fission: neutron in, two smaller nuclei and two or three neutrons out.
2. Draw arrows taking those neutrons into further uranium nuclei.
3. Show each of those nuclei splitting and releasing more neutrons.