Scribd
Upload
9 views2 pages

Fission and Fusion NOTES

The document explains nuclear fission and fusion processes, detailing how fission occurs through the splitting of heavy nuclei and fusion through the joining of light nuclei. It introduces concepts such as chain reactions and critical mass, which are essential for understanding fission's sustainability. Additionally, it highlights that nuclei lighter than iron undergo fusion while those heavier than iron undergo fission due to differences in binding energy and electrostatic forces.

Uploaded by

Sofiia Biloshytska
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views2 pages

Fission and Fusion NOTES

The document explains nuclear fission and fusion processes, detailing how fission occurs through the splitting of heavy nuclei and fusion through the joining of light nuclei. It introduces concepts such as chain reactions and critical mass, which are essential for understanding fission's sustainability. Additionally, it highlights that nuclei lighter than iron undergo fusion while those heavier than iron undergo fission due to differences in binding energy and electrostatic forces.

Uploaded by

Sofiia Biloshytska
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Fission and fusion

To know what occurs in nuclear fission and nuclear fusion processes


To know what a chain reaction is, how it occurs and what critical mass is
To be able to state and explain whether fission or fusion will occur

Nuclear Fission
Fission occurs when a nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei
We make fission happen by firing slow moving neutrons at Uranium 235, Plutonium 239 or Thorium 232 nuclei.
We call this induced fission. In this processes the nucleus absorbs a neutron then splits to form two lighter
nuclei, releases energy and any neutrons left over, usually 2 or 3.
Here is a possible equation for the fission of Uranium 235:
U  01n144
235
92 56 Ba  36 Kr  2 0 n  energyreleased , E
90 1

Chain Reaction
In the above reaction two free neutrons were released,
these can also be absorbed by two heavy nuclei and
cause a fission process. These nuclei would release more
neutrons which could cause further fissions and so on.

Critical Mass
For a chain reaction to happen the mass of the fissionable
material must be greater than a certain minimum value.
This minimum value is known as the critical mass and is
when the surface area to mass ratio is too small.
If mass < critical mass: more neutrons are escaping than are produced. Stops
If mass = critical mass: number of neutrons escaping = number of neutrons produced. Steady
If mass > critical mass: more neutrons are produced than are escaping. Meltdown

Nuclear Fusion
Fusion occurs when two nuclei join to form a bigger nucleus
The two nuclei must have very high energies to be moving fast enough to overcome the electrostatic repulsion
of the protons then, when close enough, the strong nuclear force will pull the two nuclei together.
Here is an example of the fusing of two hydrogen isotopes:
2
1 H 13H  24 He 01n  energyreleased , E
Which Will Happen?
Looking at the graph we can see the Iron 56 has the highest
binding energy per nucleon, the most energy required to
remove one proton or neutron from the nucleus. This makes
it the most stable.

Nuclei lighter than Iron will undergo fusion.


Protons and neutrons feel the attraction of the strong
nuclear force but only protons feel the repulsion of the
electrostatic force. For light nuclei, adding an extra proton
increases the strong nuclear force to pull the nucleon
together. This is because at this range the s.n.f. force is
stronger than the other three fundamental forces.
The nucleons move closer together  potential energy is lost  energy is given out

Nuclei heavier than Iron will undergo fission.

[Link]
Beyond Iron, each proton that is added to the nuclei adds to the electrostatic repulsion. The bigger the nucleus
become the less the outer protons feel the strong nuclear force from the other side. We can see the binding
energy per nucleon decrease for heavier nuclei.
A big nucleus will break into two smaller nuclei, each being stronger bonded together due to the smaller size.
The nucleons move closer together  potential energy is lost  energy is given out.

[Link]

You might also like