Fusion and Fission Slides

Fission & Fusion
Notes

Gravitational Force: The attractive force associated with mass. Infinite range, weakest strength.

Weak Force: The force that causes nuclear decay. Example: Protons turn into neutrons, and vice versa. Shortest range, low strength.

Electromagnetic Force: The attractive force between opposite charges, as well as the repulsive force of like charges. Example: Electrons attract to protons. Infinite range, high strength.

Strong Force: The force of attraction that binds protons and neutrons together. 137 times stronger than the electromagnetic force of repulsion pushing protons apart. Extremely short range, highest strength.

​Note: Strong force only applies when protons and neutrons are extremely, otherwise they will repel due to electromagnetic forces.

Match

Match the fundamental force to the example:

• Strong Force

• Weak Force

• Gravitational Force

• Electromagnetic Force

Protons and neutrons bind in nucleus

Beta decay, neutron --> proton

The sun attracts the earth

Two electrons repel from one another.

• Protons and neutrons bind in nucleus

• Beta decay, neutron --> proton

• The sun attracts the earth

• Two electrons repel from one another.

Fission

• ​When an atom has more than 83 protons, the strong force is unable to overwhelm the electromagnetic force due to the size of the nucleus, making that nucleus unstable.

• During fission, a neutron collides with a large, unstable nucleus causing it to split. Upon this collision, the fission reaction releases:

  • Two smaller isotopes

  • Energy

  • Neutron

• Fission can produce millions of times more energy than gasoline and coal-based chemical reactions.

Labelling

Label each component of the fission reaction with the appropriate term

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Large Nucleus (Reactant)

Free Neutron (Reactant)

Energy (Product)

Free Neutron (Product)

Smaller Nuclei (Fission Products)

Fission reactions are activated by neutrons but also release them. Because of this, fission often results in chain reactions, a process where one atom reacting causes other nearby atoms to react. This process repeats until nearly all nearby nuclei have undergone nuclear reaction.

Fission in Power Plants

Controlled chain reactions are utilized by scientists at nuclear power plants, which harness the enormous amount of energy released during fission to heat water, which evaporates into steam and turns turbines which generate electricity.

​

Fission in Power Plants

Fusion

• In nuclear fusion, two or more small nuclei combine to form a single, larger nucleus, releasing:

  • A larger nucleus

  • Energy

  • Free neutrons

• Fusion produces more energy than even fission.

  
  

Reorder

Order the reaction types based on the lowest amount of energy produced to highest (left to right)

• Chemical Reactions

• Fission Reactions

• Fusion Reactions

1

2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

The sun is able to trigger fusion reactions due to its incredible mass. The gravitational force overwhelms the electromagnetic force repelling two nuclei, bringing them close enough for the strong force to then bind the nucleus together through fusion. The sun releases fusion energy as heat/light.​

Fusion in the Sun

Multiple Select

Which two forces work together drive fusion reactions inside the sun?

• Strong Force

• Gravitational Force

• Electromagnetic Force

• Weak Force