Nuclear fission (AQA GCSE Physics): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
ShowHide
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
Large unstable nucleus splits into two smaller pieces
Atoms commonly used for fission
Atoms commonly used for fission
Uranium-235 and plutonium
U-235 absorbing a neutron
U-235 absorbing a neutron
Becomes very unstable and splits into two smaller nuclei
Daughter nuclei
Daughter nuclei
Two smaller pieces created when nucleus splits in fission
Neutrons released per fission
Neutrons released per fission
2-3 new neutrons
Chain reaction
Chain reaction
Neutrons from one fission cause more fissions in nearby nuclei
Uncontrolled chain reaction
Uncontrolled chain reaction
Reaction accelerates rapidly, releasing huge energy quickly
Controlled chain reaction
Controlled chain reaction
Chain reaction managed to stay steady and not speed up
How fission is controlled in power stations
How fission is controlled in power stations
Special materials absorb neutrons to slow the reaction
Neutrons per fission in controlled reaction
Neutrons per fission in controlled reaction
One neutron from each fission causes another fission
Nuclear power: heating step
Nuclear power: heating step
Fission energy heats water to make steam
Nuclear power: turbine step
Nuclear power: turbine step
Steam turns turbines connected to generators