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spideyinspace
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i have some basic doubts...why is that nuclear fission is done only on heavy nucleus..what stops to perform nuclear fission on lighter nucleus..what are the lighter nucleus that are used for fission if any?
malawi_glenn said:Yes, fission of nucleus lighter than Fe, no energy is gained. And fusion above Fe you don't gain energy.
http://www.alaskajohn.com/physics/charts/binding_energy.jpg
You see that the peak is around Fe-56; most energy / nucleon in average.
The idea of nuclear-power is to use this binding energy to get a net gain of energy =)
malawi_glenn said:what has temperature with anything to do?
on what level do you want the answer?
The first level is that you compare the total (mass and kinetic) energy of the nuclies before and after reaction. The total mass will be smaller or larger after the reaction (if you fissile a nucleus heavier than iron). The "lost" mass is then transformed into kinetic energy of the reaction products.
ben328i said:cant you not gain energy? you just transfer it or something
and don't you need about 300 million degrees to have fissio/fussion (forgot which one is where you combine two molecules) be a viable source without wasting energy put into it.
spideyinspace said:i mean the heat released...
so are u saying that only the energy released can be found...what are the different energies released, is it only heat ...is there anyway so that we can find the energy released which is in the form of heat...
malawi_glenn said:No this is more complex that this, but still very elementary. When you fuse two protons, you gain 2.22 MeV which is the binding energy of the deutron. Look at this picture:
http://www.alaskajohn.com/physics/charts/binding_energy.jpg
When you go towards iron from H, you bind the nucleus harder and harder, so when you fuse togheter nucleis up to Iron, energy is gained. You get more energy than you put in. But if you fuse two nucleis heavier than iron, the system is more loosley bound, and you get less energy than you put in.
Standard thing you should know in introductory nuclear physics.
malawi_glenn said:yes the fission products are random, they follow a distribution. Se for example:
http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/nucfig/fissionyield.gif
So therefore, the expression for how much energy that is relased is (semi)emperically measured.
In a fission reactor using water as moderator. the water is boiling. The rods with the Uran is approx 800K, if i remember correct, was three years science I had nuclear reactor science on the schedule =)
spideyinspace said:is it possible atleast theoritically to bombard a lighter nuclues than uranium and having Atomic number >60 if we use a very high energy neutron...so that there won't be any need for uranium in future if this is possible...
Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy. This process is commonly used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.
Heavy nuclei, such as uranium and plutonium, are used in nuclear fission reactions because they are unstable and can easily split into smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.
Yes, there are lighter options for nuclear fission. In addition to heavy nuclei, scientists are also exploring the use of lighter elements, such as thorium, as potential fuel sources for nuclear fission reactions.
Nuclear fission has several advantages as an energy source, including its high energy density, low carbon emissions, and ability to generate large amounts of electricity from a relatively small amount of fuel.
The main potential risks associated with nuclear fission include the release of radioactive materials, the possibility of accidents or meltdowns, and the challenge of properly managing and disposing of nuclear waste. These risks can be mitigated through strict safety regulations and proper waste management protocols.