Nuclear Fission Flashcards
All 5 cards in this deck
What is nuclear fission?
The splitting of a large unstable nucleus into two smaller daughter nuclei, releasing neutrons and energy.
Which particle must be absorbed by a uranium-235 nucleus to make it undergo fission?
A neutron.
What are the three products of the fission of a uranium-235 nucleus?
Two daughter nuclei, two or more neutrons, and a release of energy.
What must balance on both sides of a nuclear fission equation?
The total mass number (top numbers) and the total atomic number (bottom numbers).
What are the steps of a chain reaction in uranium-235?
e.g. starting with one neutron and one U-235 nucleus
- The U-235 nucleus absorbs the neutron and splits into two daughter nuclei, releasing energy.
- Two or more neutrons are released by the fission.
- Each of these neutrons can be absorbed by another U-235 nucleus, causing further fissions — the reaction spreads.