FISSION AND FUSION

SESSION INTRODUCTION

Nuclear fusion powers the Sun (left) and could be a source of energy in the future (right).

Images courtesy of EPA/Corbis/NASA and EFDA-JET. 

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

Helium atom

Hydrogen atom

If an atom were blown up to the size of Wembley Stadium, its nucleus would only be the size of marble!

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

ISOTOPES

99.9885%

0.0115%

Very Rare

Percentage of all Hydrogen atoms occurring naturally

RADIOACTIVITY

Some combinations of Protons and Neutrons are unstable (right), but can become stable through radioactive decay emitting one of these particles:

The number of protons and neutrons determines which type of decay happens

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Alpha Particle

(Helium nucleus)

Beta Minus Particle

(electron)

Beta Plus Particle

(positron)

Gamma Ray

(photon)

NUCLEAR FUSION

Fusion occurs in the Sun’s core. The light it produces takes 5,000 years to reach the surface and then a further 8 minutes to get to us.

Images courtesy of NASA/SOHO

NUCLEAR FISSION

Neutron captured in Uranium-235 nucleus

Unstable nucleus breaks apart (fissures) to become stable. This is just one way it can split.

92 protons, 143 neutrons

92 protons, 144 neutrons

36 protons, 56 neutrons

56 protons, 85 neutrons

CHAIN REACTIONS

Nuclear weapons rely on runaway chain reactions. The first atomic bombs used fission chain reactions (like that on the left) whereas in modern atomic weapons energy is released though both fission and fusion.

Image courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration

ROUNDUP

Atomic nuclei are formed of protons and neutrons

Isotopes of an element contain different numbers of neutrons

Unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma)

Fusion in the Sun combines protons forming Helium + lots of energy

Fission splits heavy nuclei into lighter elements

This can lead to a chain reaction of nuclear fission