Fission

Fission

Definition

Fission is the process of releasing energy when the mass between the product nuclei and the reactants has been concerted into energy in order to obtain a much larger percentage of nuclei of a target involved in releasing energy.

Important features of

  • additional neutrons are emitted
  • leads to "chain reaction" of neighboring molecules
  • low yield of reaction

How it works

  • process produces Fission Products which are "unstable radioactive isotopes produced when a uranium nucleus is split after capturing a neuron.
  • neutrons trigger the target nucleus causing it to split into many different components such as: neutrons, fission product, and neutron
  • once these products are released create a nuclear chain reaction

Energy released From Each Fission

(according to PH261 Slides)

   165 MeV   ~ kinetic energy of fission products
     7 MeV   ~ gamma rays
     6 MeV   ~ kinetic energy of the neutrons
     7 MeV   ~ energy from fission products
     6 MeV   ~ gamma rays from fission products
     9 MeV   ~ anti-neutrinos from fission products
   200 MeV

Controls of Nuclear Fission

  • Only One neutron out of 2 or 3 will strike another molecules nucleus
  • Controlled by a Neutron-Absorbing materialsuch as Graphite

Fission Informative Site

  • Wikipedia:Fission
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