Fission (AQA A-Level Physics): Flashcards

Heavy nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei

Higher in products than original heavy nucleus

Decrease in total mass during fission process

Rare natural fission without external trigger

Binding energy change or mass defect using $E=mc^2$

$1 ext{ u} = 931.5 ext{ MeV}$

Products move toward BE curve peak, gaining binding energy

Medium-sized nuclei, still greater than 56

Approximately 172 MeV

Products more tightly bound than original nucleus