Nuclear Fission Flashcard

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splits and releases energy.

release mass.

Because nuclear fission rarely occurs spontaneously; absorbing a neutron makes the nucleus unstable, causing fission to occur.

producing neutrons that can then strike and split neighboring nuclei creating a reaction that releases energy due to a change in mass of the original atom.

Nuclear fission is the process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei, along with the release of energy.

A neutron initiates the fission process by being absorbed by a nucleus, making it unstable.

Nuclear fission splits heavy nuclei into lighter ones, while nuclear fusion combines light nuclei to form heavier ones.

A chain reaction occurs when the products of one fission event cause further fission events, leading to a rapid release of energy.

Critical mass is the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction.