Question

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 1

Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei. This process releases a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. It is typically achieved by bombarding a heavy atom, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, with a neutron, causing the atom to become unstable and split into two lighter atoms. This reaction also releases additional neutrons that can trigger a chain reaction, leading to the continuous splitting of more atoms and the release of even more energy. Nuclear fission is the principle behind the functioning of nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.