Nik's IGCSE Physics: 7.17 and 7.18

7.17 and 7.18 starter

13 January 2012

14:02

A fuel that doesn’t burn. What is it?

Answers
· Uranium. When Uranium atoms split into two (fission) they release energy which can be captured in a nuclear power station. This is a nuclear reaction and is fundamentally different to burning (combustion is a chemical reaction)

7.17 and 7.18 starter 2

13 January 2012

14:02

How many protons and neutrons are there in
· 23592U?
· 23692U?

Answers
· 23592U = 92 protons; 143 neutrons.

This radioisotope of Uranium is commonly used as a fuel for nuclear power stations
· 23692U = 92 protons; 144 neutrons

This radioisotope of Uranium is highly unstable and is artificially created in nuclear power stations where it undergoes fission

7.17 and 7.18

12 January 2012

10:32
· 7.17 understand that a nucleus of U-235 can be split (the process of fission) by collision with a neutron, and that this process releases energy in the form of kinetic energy of the fission products
· 7.18 recall that the fission of U-235 produces two daughter nuclei and a small number of neutrons
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PhET animation - nuclear fission

31 January 2012

13:34
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Website

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/nuclear-fission

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