Nuclear Fission & Fusion
AQA seperate science - Physics 2B - atoms and electricity.
Mindmap Covering
- Nuclear Fission
- Chain Reactions
- Nuclear Fusion
- Created by: Ellie
- Created on: 17-04-14 15:42
View mindmap
- Nuclear Fission & Fusion
- Fission
- In a nuclear reactor, a controlled chain reaction takes place in which atomic nuclei split up and release energy in the form of heat.
- This heat is used to make steam which makes a turbine spin and generate electricity
- Chain Reactions
- 1) For fission to happen a slow moving neutron has to be absorbed into a uranium or plutonium nucleus
- By adding another neutron you make the nucleus unstable, causing it to split
- 2) Each time a uranium or plutonium nucleus splits up it gets rid or a few neutrons one of which might hit another nucleus and cause it to split.
- 3) When a large atom splits it forms two smaller nuclei
- These nuclei are normally unstable as they dont have the right number of neutrons.
- 4) A nucleus splitting gives out lots of energy
- 5) The main problem with nuclear power is the
- 6) Nuclear fuel is cheap but additional costs e.g the power plant makes it very expensive
- 7) Nuclear power carries the risk of radiation leaks.
- 6) Nuclear fuel is cheap but additional costs e.g the power plant makes it very expensive
- 5) The main problem with nuclear power is the
- 3) When a large atom splits it forms two smaller nuclei
- 7) Nuclear power carries the risk of radiation leaks.
- 1) For fission to happen a slow moving neutron has to be absorbed into a uranium or plutonium nucleus
- In a nuclear reactor, a controlled chain reaction takes place in which atomic nuclei split up and release energy in the form of heat.
- Fusion
- Joining together
- Two light nuclei can join together to make one big nucleus
- Fusion releases a lot of energy
- Scientists are trying to use nuclear fusion to generate electricity
- Doesn't cause radiation
- Uses hydrogen which we have large amounts of
- Can only be created at really high tempreatures
- (10,000,000*)
- You need a huge magnetic field to cope with the high pressure and tempreature
- COSTLY
- Can only be created at really high tempreatures
- (10,000,000*)
- Can only be created at really high tempreatures
- COSTLY
- Fission
Comments
No comments have yet been made