 Describe nuclear fission

 Identify advantages and disadvantages

of fission

 Describe nuclear fusion

 Identify advantages and disadvantages

of fusion
 Getting energy from the nucleus of an
atom has benefits & hazards

 2 ways to get energy from a nucleus:

› Fission

› Fusion
 The process by which a large nucleus
splits into 2 small nuclei and releases
energy

 Some nuclei of larger atoms undergo

fission naturally

 Large atoms can be forced to undergo

fission by hitting the atoms with neutrons
http://www.nti.org/h_learnmore/nuctutorial/photos/ch02_02.gif
 Matter can be changed into energy!

 ??Total mass of the products is LESS THAN

the total mass of the reactants??

 Some of the matter was converted to

energy
  The amount of energy given off from a
single uranium nucleus is very small (~1/5
the mass of a hydrogen atom)

 The nuclear fission of the uranium nuclei

in one fuel pellet releases = energy to
energy from burning 1,000kg of coal

http://www.peakoil.org.au/news/nuclear/fuel-pellet.jpg
http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/oml631csgjs7/e4w1oo/fission.jpg
 Suppose that 2 or 3 neutrons split other
uranium-235 nuclei, and so on and so
on…

 Continuous series of nuclear fission

reactions

 Pg. 457, Figure 3 in text

 Uncontrolled reaction
› Huge amounts of energy are given off very
quickly
› Ex: atomic bomb (1945)

 Controlled reaction
› Energy release is controlled and used to
generate electricity
› Ex: nuclear power plants
  Pg. 458, Figure 4 in text

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/images/science/nuclearenergy1.jpg
 Accidents
› Chernobyl (1986)
› Wastes expelled into the atmosphere
 Waste
› Used fuel rods, chemicals, workers protective
clothing
› Long-term storage
 Nuclear vs. Fossil fuel
› Cost to build plants ↑; less cost to run
› No gases released; uranium supply is limited
  The combination of the nuclei of small
atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases
energy

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VRbij_1bW0U/SmSpNtH3qbI/AAAAAAAAAB0/7LlpW8VIzUM/s400/a770e.jpg
 Repulsion between positively charged
nuclei must be overcome

 High temperatures are needed

(+100,000,000˚C)

 Matter is a plasma at these temps

 The state of matter in which electrons
have been removed from atoms

 Plasma is made up of ions & electrons

 Ex: the sun has these kinds of temps

(hydrogen nuclei fuse here to form a
helium nucleus)
http://prl.anu.edu.au/H-1NF/media/plasma%20fusion%20diagram%201.JPG
 Less accident prone
› Fusion products are not radioactive
 Oceans of fuel
› Hydrogen in oceans is plentiful
› More energy released than fusion
› Saves resources
 Less waste
› Cleaner source of energy; less waste
 Define nuclear fission

 Define nuclear fusion

 What is the main product of nuclear

fusion in the sun?