Difference between revisions of "Nuclear fission"
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'''Nuclear fission''' occurs when an [[atom]] of a heavy [[element]] (such as [[uranium]]) breaks into two or more atoms of lighter elements (such as [[barium]] and [[krypton]]). Fission of elements heavier than [[iron]] will release energy, while fission of elements lighter than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fission requires heavy, fissile isotopes (such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239) that will decay relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy. | '''Nuclear fission''' occurs when an [[atom]] of a heavy [[element]] (such as [[uranium]]) breaks into two or more atoms of lighter elements (such as [[barium]] and [[krypton]]). Fission of elements heavier than [[iron]] will release energy, while fission of elements lighter than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fission requires heavy, fissile isotopes (such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239) that will decay relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy. | ||
==See Also== | |||
* [[Nuclear fusion]] | |||
[[Category: Science]] | [[Category: Science]] | ||
[[Category:Real Technology]] | [[Category:Real Technology]] | ||
Revision as of 14:32, 5 December 2008
Nuclear fission occurs when an atom of a heavy element (such as uranium) breaks into two or more atoms of lighter elements (such as barium and krypton). Fission of elements heavier than iron will release energy, while fission of elements lighter than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fission requires heavy, fissile isotopes (such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239) that will decay relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy.