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

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