AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: Nuclear fission
Atomic structure · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.4.4.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Nuclear fission", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What is nuclear fission?
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The splitting of a large and unstable nucleus (e.g. uranium or plutonium) into smaller nuclei.
Name two elements whose nuclei commonly undergo nuclear fission.
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Uranium and plutonium.
What must an unstable nucleus usually absorb before fission occurs?
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A neutron. Spontaneous fission (without absorbing a neutron) is rare.
Spontaneous nuclear fission is ?; usually a neutron must first be absorbed.
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rare
How many smaller nuclei does a nucleus split into during fission?
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Two, roughly equal in size.
How many neutrons are emitted in a single fission reaction?
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Two or three.
Besides neutrons, what type of radiation is emitted during nuclear fission?
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Gamma rays.
In what form do the products of nuclear fission carry energy?
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Kinetic energy — all of the fission products are moving.
How can one fission reaction lead to a chain reaction?
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The neutrons it emits can be absorbed by other unstable nuclei, causing them to undergo fission too.
Why is the chain reaction controlled in a nuclear reactor?
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To control the rate at which energy is released.
What causes the explosion of a nuclear weapon?
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An uncontrolled chain reaction of nuclear fission.
In a nuclear reactor the fission chain reaction is ?, whereas in a nuclear weapon it is uncontrolled.
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controlled
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