Nuclear Physics

Fission and Fusion reactions

Nuclear Physics: Distribution of Nuclear particles such as protons, neutrons, Their interactions. Its structure, size, shape, Nuclear Stability radioactivity, radioactive decay nuclear reactions, fission and fusion

Fission
When atoms are bombarded with neutrons, their nuclei splits into 2 parts which are roughly equal in size. Nuclear fission in the process whereby a nucleus, with a high mass number, splits into 2 nuclei which have roughly equal smaller mass numbers.

During nuclear fission, neutrons are released.

There are many types of uranium:

235
A Z

U 92

238
A Z

U 92

Number of protons Number of neutrons

Number of protons Number of neutrons

There are many types of uranium:

235
A Z

U 92
235 92 92 143

238
A Z

U 92
238 92 92 146

Number of protons Number of neutrons

Number of protons Number of neutrons

Isotopes of any particular element contain the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.

Most of the isotopes which occur naturally are stable.

A few naturally occurring isotopes and all of the manmade isotopes are unstable. Unstable isotopes can become stable by releasing different types of particles. This process is called radioactive decay and the elements which undergo this process are called radioisotopes/radionuclides.

Nuclear Fission
There are 2 types of fission that exist:
1. Spontaneous Fission 2. Induced Fission

Spontaneous Fission
Some radioisotopes contain nuclei which are highly unstable and decay spontaneously by splitting into 2 smaller nuclei.

Such spontaneous decays are accompanied by the release of neutrons.

Induced Fission
Nuclear fission can be induced by bombarding atoms with neutrons. The nuclei of the atoms then split into 2 equal parts. Induced fission decays are also accompanied by the release of neutrons.

The Fission Process

A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235 nucleus.

1 0

235 92 U

The Fission Process

A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235 nucleus.

1 0

235 92 U

The Fission Process

A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235 nucleus.

1 0

235 92 U

The Fission Process

The neutron strikes the nucleus which then captures the neutron.

1 0

235 92 U

The Fission Process

The nucleus changes from being uranium-235 to uranium-236 as it has captured a neutron.

236 92 U

The Fission Process

The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

The Fission Process

The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

The Fission Process

The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

The Fission Process

It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases neutrons.
1 0 141 56 Ba 1 0 92 36 Kr 1 0

The Fission Process

It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases neutrons.
1 0 141 56 Ba

1 0

92 36 Kr 1 0

The Fission Process

It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases neutrons.
1 0 141 56 Ba

1 0

92 36 Kr 1 0

The Fission Process

It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases 1 neutrons. 0n
141 56 Ba

1 0

92 36 Kr 1

Nuclear Fission Examples

235

U n + 92 0
U n + 92 0
1

141

Ba Kr n 3 + + 56 36 0
Cs Rb n 2 + + 55 37 0
96 1

92

235

138

Energy from Fission

Both the fission fragments and neutrons travel at high speed.

The kinetic energy of the products of fission are far greater than that of the bombarding neutron and target atom.
EK before fission << EK after fission

Energy is being released as a result of the fission reaction.

Energy from Fission

Calculate the total mass before and after fission takes place. The total mass before fission (LHS of the equation):
3.9014 x 10-25 + 1.6750 x 10-27 = 3.91815 x 10-25 kg

The total mass after fission (RHS of the equation):

2.2895 x 10-25 + 1.5925 x 10-25 + (2 x 1.6750 x 10-27) = 3.9155 x 10-25 kg

Energy from Fission

The total mass before fission = 3.91815 x 10-25 kg
The total mass after fission = 3.91550 x 10-25 kg total mass before fission > total mass after fission

Energy from Fission

mass difference, m = total mass before fission total mass after fission

m = 3.91815 x 10-25 3.91550 x 10-25 m = 2.65 x 10-28 kg

This reduction in mass results in the release of energy.

Energy Released
The energy released can be calculated using the equation:

E = mc2
Where:
E = energy released (J) m = mass difference (kg)

m c2

c = speed of light in a vacuum (3 x 108 ms-1)

Energy from Fission

Calculate the energy released from the following fission reaction:

235

U n + 92 0
m = 2.65 x 10-28 kg c = 3 x 108 ms-1

138

Cs Rb n 2 + + 55 37 0
E = mc2 E = 2.65 x 10-28 x (3 x 108)2 E = 2.385 x 10-11 J

96

E=E

Nuclear Fusion
In nuclear fusion, two nuclei with low mass numbers combine to produce a single nucleus with a higher mass number.

H H + 1 1

Energy He n + + 2 0

The Fusion Process

2 1H

3 1H

The Fusion Process

2 1H

3 1H

The Fusion Process

2 1H

3 1H

The Fusion Process

2 1H 3 1H

The Fusion Process

The Fusion Process

The Fusion Process

The Fusion Process

The Fusion Process

1 0 4 2 He

The Fusion Process

1 0 4 2 He

The Fusion Process

1 0

4 2 He

The Fusion Process

1 0

4 2 He

Energy from Fusion

Calculate the following:
The mass difference. The energy released per fusion.

Energy from Fusion

2

H H + 1 1

Energy He n + + 2 0

The total mass before fusion (LHS of the equation): 3.345 x 10-27 + 5.008 x 10-27 = 8.353 x 10-27 kg The total mass after fission (RHS of the equation): 6.647 x 10-27 + 1.675 x 10-27 = 8.322 x 10-27 kg

Energy from Fusion

m = total mass before fission total mass after fission
m = 8.353 x 10-27 8.322 x 10-27

m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg

Energy from Fusion

2

H H + 1 1
m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg c = 3 x 108 ms-1
E=E

Energy He n + + 2 0
E = mc2 E = 3.1 x 10-29 x (3 x 108)2 E = 2.79 x 10-12 J

The energy released per fusion is 2.79 x 10-12 J.