Fission/Fusion

Front

What is nuclear fission?

Back

Nuclear fission is the process of splitting a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei, releasing a significant amount of energy.

Front

What is nuclear fusion?

Back

Nuclear fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Front

How do nuclear power plants generate energy?

Back

Nuclear power plants generate energy through the process of fission, where the nucleus of uranium or plutonium is split.

Front

What is a half-life?

Back

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

What type of reaction is fission?

Back

Fission is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases energy.

Front

What type of reaction is fusion?

Back

Fusion is also an exothermic reaction, releasing energy when light nuclei combine.

Front

What is a chain reaction in fission?

Back

A chain reaction occurs when the products of one fission event cause further fission events, leading to a rapid release of energy.

Front

What are the main fuels used in fission reactions?

Back

The main fuels used in fission reactions are uranium-235 and plutonium-239.

Front

What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reactor?

Back

Control rods are used to absorb neutrons and regulate the fission process, controlling the rate of the reaction.

Front

What is the difference between fission and fusion?

Back

Fission involves splitting heavy nuclei, while fusion involves combining light nuclei.