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Nuclear power - EdexcelNuclear fission

The nuclei of atoms contain a large amount of energy. Releasing this energy would free the world from having to use fossil fuels. There are two methods of doing this: fission and fusion.

Part of Physics (Single Science)Radioactivity

Nuclear fission

is the splitting of a large atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei.

Process of nuclear fission, from a neutron being fired into a uranium nucleus, which splits into smaller nuclei and neutrons, which then hit other uranium nuclei.

In a , a slow-moving is absorbed into a nucleus (typically uranium-235). This causes the nucleus to become uranium-236, which is unstable.

The entire nucleus splits into two large fragments called 鈥鈥. In addition to the 鈥榙aughter鈥 products, two or three neutrons also explode out of the fission reaction and these can collide with other uranium nuclei to cause further fission reactions. This is known as a .

The fast moving neutrons carry most of the energy from the reaction with them (99%) but before the neutrons can collide with fresh uranium nuclei, they need to be slowed down.

Their energy is passed on to other components in the nuclear reactor, which is used to heat water to drive the that turn the .