NUCLEAR FISSION

WHAT IS IT?

• Radioactive decay of a nucleus
• Nucleus splits into smaller parts

FISSION VS FUSION

• Fission splits larger atoms into highly radioactive small atoms
• Fusion takes two small atoms and makes one big atom that is not very radioactive

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SCIENCE OF FISSION

• The neutron is captured by the nucleus, causing severe vibration leading to the nucleus splitting into two not quite equal parts.

SCIENCE OF FISSION

• Chain reaction
• The destruction releases a significant amount of energy as much as 200 times that of the neutron that started the procedure as well as releasing at least two more neutrons

HISTORY OF FISSION

• Nuclear Fission was discovered on December 17, 1938 by German Otto Hahn
• Explained theoretically in January 1939 by Lise Meitner and her nephew Otto Robert Frisch

HISTORY OF FISSION

• From 1939-1945 the process of nuclear fission was used to help create the atom bomb
• Post WWII nuclear fission was harnessed and used to produce electricity

APPLICATIONS

• Nuclear Fission is used to produce energy for nuclear power
• Causes nuclear bombs to explode

APPLICATIONS

• Power plants
• Easy and cheap way of making nuclear energy

FUN FACTS

• Power plants run by nuclear fission produce 20% of America's electricity
• The fission process is highly dangerous and has caused power plant disasters

WORK CITED

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/nuclear_fission.htm
• http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/HowPowerPlantsWork
• http://www.scienceclarified.com/Mu-Oi/Nuclear-Fission.html