Fusion and Fission
- Created by: R.Perkins
- Created on: 04-03-14 09:57
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- Fission and Fusion
- Nuclear Fission
- Nuclear Reactors
- Controlled chain reaction occurs
- Atomic nuclei split up and release heat energy
- Uranium- 235
- Plutonium - 239
- Heat is used to heat water (creating steam) which is used to drive a turbine
- Turbine -> Generator (generates the electricity)
- Parts of a nuclear power station
- Steam Generator
- Location where water is heated by the enrgy generated from the cain reaction
- Control rods
- Absorb neutrons
- Control the rate of reaction
- Coolant pump
- Steam Generator
- Process
- Slow moving neutron must be absorbed into a uranium/plutonium nucleus
- Gaining a neutron makes the atom unstable
- Nucleus splits
- Each time this occurs, two/three neutrons are removed by the atom
- These may hit other atoms and continue this process (chain reaction)
- Should a large atom split, two smaller nuceli are formed because of the vast numbers of the neturons within them
- These nuceli are typically radioactive
- Slow moving neutron must be absorbed into a uranium/plutonium nucleus
- PROs and CONs
- Provides large amounts of energy, much more than any other chemical reaction
- Remiments are radioactives and incredibly difficult to dispose of safely
- Risk of radiation leaks
- Cheap source of power generation
- Decommissioning a nuclear power plant takes approximately 50 years
- Nuclear Reactors
- Nuclear Fusion
- Process
- Nuceli boasting a small mass number (eg. hydrogen and helium) can join to create a larger nucleus
- PROs and CONs
- Releases a signficiantly large amount of energy, compared with fission.
- Hydogen is an abudant resource
- Leaves a minimal amount of nuclear waste
- Less of a threat to the environment
- Fusion at only occur at extremely high temperatures
- Approximately 10000000 Degrees Celius
- Hydrogen cannot be contained within these conditons unless it is exposed to a very strong magnetic field.
- Process
- Nuclear Fission
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