Fission Notes on... chain reactions 1.0 / 5 based on 1 rating ? PhysicsRadioactivityGCSEAll boards Created by: Olive d(>w<)bCreated on: 11-04-12 15:34 Generating Electricity Using Nuclear Fuels Fission is the process of splitting an atom. Uranium-235 is used as a fuel in a nuclear reactor. It is used because its nuclei can be split by a neuron. A slow-moving neutron is absorbed by a nucleus of uranium-235. It splits into two daughter nuclei (barium-144 and krypton-89) and three more neutrons are released and gamma radiation is produced. The three neutrons then go on to split 3 more uranium-235 nuclei (etc. etc.). This process continues and is called a chain reaction. A moderator (graphite) absorbs some of the kinetic energy of the neutrons to slow them down. Control rods (boron or cadmium) absorb the neutrons or take them out of the process completely. 1 of 1
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