1.8 - Nuclear Fission

What are the pros of nuclear energy?

• No greenhouse gases produced, so it does not contribute to global warming

• Large amounts of energy produced from a small mass of fuel

What are the cons of nuclear energy?

• Produces nuclear waste which needs to be disposed of in a safe way

• Could lead to a nuclear accident

What is nuclear fission?

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a large and unstable  nucleus. Usually, for fission to occur the nucleus must first absorb a slow moving neutron. The nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei, roughly equal in size, and emits two to three neutrons, gamma rays, and lots of energy.

What fuel is used for nuclear fission?

uranium 235 and plutonium 239

What is a chain reaction?

when fission accurs, two or three neutrons also explode out of the fission reaction and these can collide with other uranium nuclei to cause further fission reactions

What is an uncontrolled chain reaction used for?

nuclear bomb

What is an controlled chain reaction used for?

nuclear power plants

What does it mean for a nuclear reactor to be decommisioned?

a long process of slowly cleaning up radioactivity and dismantaling of the nuclear power plant

What is 1?

nuclear reactor

What is 2?

molten sodium (or liquid water under high pressure)

What is 3?

steam

What is 4?

steam generator

What is 5?

river

What is 6?

condenser

What is 7?

steam turbine