Nuclear Fission

The splitting of a large nucleus into two smaller nuclei with the release of a large amount of energy

• studying the radiation emitted from uranium salts when exposed to sunlight • during a dull period he put the uranium salts in a drawer with some photographic film • the film was exposed even though it hadn’t been exposed to light • deduced that something had come from the uranium : radioactivity

One neutron fired at a nucleus causes the nucleus to split into two nuclei(undergo fission), and also released another three neutrons which cause further fission of nearby nuclei.

Use a controlled chain reaction to produce steam to generate electricity

• medical treatment, sterilization, radiotherapy for cancer • make electricity • can produce highly radioactive cancer causing products

• innocent people killed in atomic bomb - arms race led to Cold War

• no co2 • toxic nuclear waste that has to be stored safely • leaks of radioactivity contaminate farm land, food and water supplies , cause cancer