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Fission and Fusion Notes

Fission and Fusion Notes. Nuclear Fission- process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei. The total mass of the products is slightly less than the mass of the original nucleus and the neutron that hit it. This mass in converted into energy. .

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Fission and Fusion Notes

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  1. Fission and Fusion Notes

  2. Nuclear Fission-process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei. • The total mass of the products is slightly less than the mass of the original nucleus and the neutron that hit it. This mass in converted into energy.

  3. Albert Einstein proposed special theory of relativity, E=mc2, which shows the relationship between mass and energy. • Based on this equation, mass can be converted into energy, and energy can be converted into mass. • Example: Convert 5 grams of matter into energy.

  4. Chain Reactions • A chain reaction can occur as a result of nuclear fission, meaning that the neutrons released can then go and strike other atoms, those atoms will release more neutrons, and the process can continue infinitely. • In order for this to occur, you must have a critical mass, the amount of material required so that a fission reaction can produce at least one more fission reaction • The rate of fission can be controlled by absorbing some of these neutrons. • Fission is used in nuclear reactors

  5. Nuclear Fusion • Nuclear Fusion-Two nuclei with low masses form 1 nucleus of larger mass • Produces even more energy than fission • Fusion is said to be a source of “clean” energy because there are no radioactive by-products, but it is not a practical source of energy yet. • In order for this to occur, the atoms must be moving VERY fast (high temperature). This process only occurs naturally in the core of stars, like our Sun.

  6. Nuclear Fusion in the Stars • The Sun is made of mostly Hydrogen. The light and heat produced by the Sun is the result of nuclear fusion. The hydrogen of the sun is being converted to Helium. • This process consists of three steps. 1. Two hydrogen nuclei (protons) collide and fuse turning one of the protons into a neutron and _releasing energy__. 2. Another proton combines with the neutron-proton pair made in step one. To produce a nucleus made of two protons and one neutron and release more energy. 3. Two nuclei, each made up two protons and one neutron, collide forming a Helium atom and releasing two protons and more energy.

  7. Structure of the Sun Fusion Proton H Neutron RxN Positron Neutrino 2H H 3He RxN H H Gamma Rays RxN 4He H Gamma Rays H H RxN 3He RxN 2H H http://www.astronomynotes.com/starsun/s3.htm

  8. Fusion in Stars • Gamma Radiation from the sun is the nuclear radiation that reaches Earth, but the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the majority of it. • Stars hotter than our sun are able to fuse together atoms even larger than Helium.

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