Nuclear Reactions:

FISSION & FUSION

 Introduction

 Nuclear reactions deal with interactions

between the nuclei of atoms
 Both fission and fusion processes deal with
matter and energy
 Matter and Energy

 Previous studies have taught us that “matter

and energy cannot be created nor destroyed”
 We now need to understand that Matter and
Energy are two forms of the same thing
 E = mc2

 Remember that matter can be changed into

Energy
 This tells us that a small amount of mass can be
converted into a very large amount of energy
because the speed of light (c) is an extremely
large number

Light
Energy Mass
Speed
 Fission

 Fission may be defined as the process of

splitting an atomic nucleus into fission
fragments
 The fission fragments are generally in the form
of smaller atomic nuclei and neutrons
 Large amounts of energy are produced by the
fission process
 Fission

 Fissile nuclei are generally atoms with more

neutrons than protons
 The nuclei of such heavy atoms are struck by
neutrons initiating the fission process
 Fission occurs when the strong nuclear force is
disrupted by an incoming projectile (in this
case a neutron)
 When the strong nuclear force is disrupted
electrostatic repulsion splits the nuclei
 Fission

 A classic example of a fission reaction is that of

U-235:
U-235 + 1 Neutron
3 Neutrons + Kr-91 + Ba-142 + Energy
 In this example, a stray neutron strikes an atom of U-235.
It absorbs the neutron and becomes an unstable atom of
U-236. It then undergoes fission. Notice that more
neutrons are released in the reaction. These neutrons
can strike other U-235 atoms to initiate their fission.
Nuclear Chain Reaction
 Fission

 Fission produces large amounts of heat energy

and it is this heat that is captured by nuclear
power plants to produce electricity.
 Fusion

 Fusion is a nuclear reaction whereby two light

atomic nuclei fuse or combine to form a single
larger nuclei which is lighter than the sum of the
two that fuse.
 The lost mass is converted to energy. (E = mc2 )
 For fusion to occur, a large amount of energy is
needed to overcome the electrical charges of
the nuclei and fuse them together
Fusion
 Fusion

 Fusion reactions do not occur naturally on our

planet but are the principal type of reaction
found in stars
 The large masses, densities, and high
temperatures of stars provide the initial
energies needed to fuel fusion reactions
 The sun fuses hydrogen atoms to produce
helium, subatomic particles, and vast amounts
of energy
 Energy Comparison
 Because of the large binding energies involved
in a nucleus, both fission and fusion involve
energy changes of more than a million times
larger than those energy changes associated
with chemical reactions.
 Review

 Mass and Energy are two forms of the same

thing; neither can be created nor destroyed but
mass can be converted into energy (E = mc2)
 Fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy
atomic nucleus is split into lighter atomic nuclei
 Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which 2 light
atomic nuclei are combined into a single,
heavier atomic nucleus
 Quiz

 Which nuclear process produces large

amounts of energy?
A. Fission
B. Fusion
C. Both fission & fusion
D. Neither fission nor fusion
 Quiz

 Fission is the process that _________ atomic

nuclei.
A. Combines
B. Burns up
C. Stores
D. Splits
 Quiz

 Mass may be converted into energy.

A. True
B. False
 Quiz

 The fission process requires heavy

atomic nuclei.
A. True
B. False
 Quiz

 Name a nuclear reaction that occurs

within the sun:
 Quiz

 Fission is a natural process that occurs

on the planet Earth.
A. True
B. False
 Quiz

 Explain this equation:

E = mc2