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Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy comes from reactions that involve the nuclei of atoms. There are variations of atomic elements called isotopes that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Isotopes can become unstable and radioactive if they have too many or too few neutrons. When isotopes decay they release energy and particles and become more stable in a process called radioactive decay. The time it takes for half of the atoms in an isotope to decay is known as its half-life, which can range from seconds to millions of years. Nuclear fission involves splitting larger atoms into smaller ones and is the basis for nuclear power plants, while nuclear fusion combines lighter atoms into heavier ones and occurs as the energy source of stars like the sun

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121 views2 pages

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy comes from reactions that involve the nuclei of atoms. There are variations of atomic elements called isotopes that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Isotopes can become unstable and radioactive if they have too many or too few neutrons. When isotopes decay they release energy and particles and become more stable in a process called radioactive decay. The time it takes for half of the atoms in an isotope to decay is known as its half-life, which can range from seconds to millions of years. Nuclear fission involves splitting larger atoms into smaller ones and is the basis for nuclear power plants, while nuclear fusion combines lighter atoms into heavier ones and occurs as the energy source of stars like the sun

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NUCLEAR ENERGY

ATOMS ISOTOPES

On the Periodic Table, each element has a mass number


and an atomic number. The mass number tells you how
many protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons
(particles with no charge) there are in the atoms of that
element. The atomic number is the number of protons it
has. Let's look at Hydrogen, the first element on the There are variations of the atomic elements that aren't
periodic table. Its atomic mass is 1.00794 and its atomic pictured on the table; these are called isotopes.
number is 1. This means that hydrogen has no neutrons. Isotopes have the same number of protons as the
original atom, which is hydrogen in this case, but a
different number of neutrons.

RADIOACTIVITY
Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons. However,
when atoms have too many or too few neutrons, they can
HALF-LIFE
be unstable. When isotopes are unstable, they become Half-life is how long it takes for half of the atoms in an
radioactive. Unstable isotopes want to become stable, so isotope to decay and become stable. Half-lives can
they release energy and particles, and become stable. span from a couple seconds to millions of years. This
They do this by emitting radiation. can be dangerous because it can take a very long time
for the entire isotope to become close to stable.
FISSION VS. FUSION
Splitting of larger atom into two Fusion of two or more lighter atoms
smaller atoms into one larger atom
Does not normally occur in nature Occurs in stars, like the sun
Radioactive products ARE a Radioactive products NOT a
problem problem
High speed neutrons and large High temperatures needed to push
particles needed two atoms' nuclei together
Very little energy needed to create 3-4x greater energy released than
fission fission reaction
Energy released is about 1,000,000x There is a nuclear fusion bomb: the
greater than a chemical reaction hydrogen bomb, but it used fission
Fission is the basis of nuclear power energy to start the reaction
plants and most nuclear weapons

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