Nuclear power uses uranium as a fuel, it produces heat when the atoms are split by neutrons - nuclear fission!
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what does fissions mean?
split
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When a nucleus fissions what happens?
It splits into smaller nuclei and 2 or 3 neutrons are emitted
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What type of reaction is it?Why?
Chain reaction because these neutrons then cause other nuclei to split
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How does nuclear power work?
Like fossil fuel power stations, however the heat supplied is from the fission of nuclei
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Explain the 5 points of the system of a nuclear power station
Nuclear fission makes heat - heated water turns to steam - steam turns turbines - turbines turn generator - electrical power sent round country
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The fuel rods in a nuclear reactor contain what?
Uranium
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Firing neutrons at the rods causes what?
Nuclear fission and heat
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To enable the process to happen what speed must the neutrons be moving at?
Slow speed
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What controls the speed of the process to prevent the reactor behaving like a bomb? What are they made of?
Control rods made of boron
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How do they regulate the number of free neutrons?
By absorbing them
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What is an unavoidable feature of nuclear power stations?
Nuclear waste which is radioactive
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The waste produced can be?
HLW (high level waste) or LLW(low level waste.
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What is fission?
Splitting of the nuclei
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What is fusion?
joining of nuclei - hydrogen becoming helium
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Which is better, fusion or fission?
Fusion!
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When does fusion occur?
When 2 nuclei join together and large amount of heat energy is released
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What factors does it need to happen?
High temperature and high pressure
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What is the problem with this?
Difficult to maintain!
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Where is nuclear fusion happening now?
The sun
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On Earth how can a fusion bomb be started?
Fission reactions are used to create high temperatures
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An advantage of fusion
No nuclear waste!
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What is cold fusion?Myth or reality?
Ages ago scientists claimed they could achieve fusion under low temperatures, their information was shared and other scientists tried however did not get the same results so the scientists who created the theory were not believed - myth!
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