Nuclear Reactions

Fission and Fusion

FISSION

The splitting of an atomic nucleus into 2 smaller particles.Animation

All nuclei with 83 or more protons are unstable.

FISSION

During fission tremendous amounts of ENERGY are produced from very small amounts of MASS.

Chain ReactionNeutrons released during the

splitting of the first nucleus trigger many more nuclear fissions.

Critical MassThe SMALLEST possible

mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction.

Controlled reactions

Occur in nuclear power plants

Animation

Uncontrolled reactions

Occur in atomic bombs

Animation

FUSIONThe process of COMBINING

two smaller nuclei into ONE

larger nucleus.

FUSION

This process losses even more mass than FISSION, and therefore releases more ENERGY.

At the present time, this means that very high temperatures are required for fusion to occur.

Animation

SIMILARITIES between fission and fusion Both are nuclear reactions (involve the

nuclei of atoms) Both convert a very small amount of mass

into an extremely large amount of

ENERGY.

DIFFERENCESBETWEEN

FISSIONAND

FUSION

FISSION• Involves splitting atoms

(One becomes two)

• Is currently possible

FUSIONInvolves fusing atoms (joining two and making one)

• Requires extremely high temperatures

• Not currently possible