Nuclear Fission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nuclear Fission - Essay exerciseA uranium atom is bombarded by slow moving neutrons. Nucleus that split produce trio neutrons creating a chain reaction that must be controlled. Control in a nuclear nuclear reactor is obtained by using two isotopes of Uranium and . does not split when bombarded with neutrons and thus stops the chain reaction. black lead modulators and control rods are also used in nuclear reactors to control the nuclear fission reaction. black lead modulators slow down the fast moving newly renderd neutrons. Carbon rods are moved in and fall out of the reactor to absorb neutrons and control or complete stop the nuclear fission reaction. The main mischief in using nuclear fission reactors is the disposal and storage of nuclear waste which remain genuinely harmful for several thousand years.The sun generates its heat energy by using nuclear uniting reactions that takes indicate on the sun. Even though, both nuclear fusion and fission generate energy. However, f usion is the rick of fission. Fission is simple in relation to fusions. Fission requires lots of graduate(prenominal)ly radioactive material, creating by-products with very dour half-lives, whereas fusion uses only small descends of fuel.Fusion occurs when light atomic nuclei are forced close nice together that they combine to form heavier nuclei. On the other hand fission heavy nuclei are illogical downs into lighter fragments (POST 2003, p.1). Controlling fusion reactions affects the use of two light nuclei, deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of enthalpy. Fusion takes place when the nuclei obtain enough energy to overcome their mutual repulsion, they can undergo the fusion reaction shown in the sideline figureFigure 1 simple Fusion ReactionNuclear fusion reactions involve the fusion of two nuclei to generate helium and a neutron in addition to a large amount of energy. The particles form a high density and super hot ionized gas called plasma. At high temperature the electrons escape from the nuclei producing a plasma of positive ions. To create nuclear fusion reactions on earth, the plasma must be confined to minimize heat losses from the system.NucleogenesisLithium is generated in the stars by the treat of nucleogensis. This process uses the most abundant elements of hydrogen and helium to generate lithium. In the sun, the nearest star, a large measurement of energy is generated when hydrogen is converted into helium by the following nuclear fusion reaction(Woods 2006, p9) after(prenominal) hydrogen is used up in the sun, a new series of fusion reactions occur in which helium generates beryllium, which then reacts with helium to generate carbon, which then reacts with helium to generate oxygen, which then reacts with helium to generate neon, which then reacts with helium to generate magnesium. All of these fusion reactions generate energy in addition to the distinct elements that are produced as shown in the following series of reactions ( Woods 2006, p9)Once helium is used up, carbon regenerates hydrogen and helium in addition to a number of other elements as demonstrated in the following fusion