Nuclear fission occurs when a neutron splits an unstable heavy nucleus such as uranium-235. This releases energy and more neutrons, which can then split more nuclei in a self-sustaining chain reaction. A nuclear power station uses uranium fuel, a moderator like water to slow neutrons, and control rods to regulate the chain reaction to produce heat to generate electricity. Safety features include thick concrete shielding and control rods that can instantly stop the reaction in an emergency. Spent fuel is stored safely and responsibly.
Nuclear fission occurs when a neutron splits an unstable heavy nucleus such as uranium-235. This releases energy and more neutrons, which can then split more nuclei in a self-sustaining chain reaction. A nuclear power station uses uranium fuel, a moderator like water to slow neutrons, and control rods to regulate the chain reaction to produce heat to generate electricity. Safety features include thick concrete shielding and control rods that can instantly stop the reaction in an emergency. Spent fuel is stored safely and responsibly.
Nuclear fission occurs when a neutron splits an unstable heavy nucleus such as uranium-235. This releases energy and more neutrons, which can then split more nuclei in a self-sustaining chain reaction. A nuclear power station uses uranium fuel, a moderator like water to slow neutrons, and control rods to regulate the chain reaction to produce heat to generate electricity. Safety features include thick concrete shielding and control rods that can instantly stop the reaction in an emergency. Spent fuel is stored safely and responsibly.
Nuclear fission occurs when a neutron splits an unstable heavy nucleus such as uranium-235. This releases energy and more neutrons, which can then split more nuclei in a self-sustaining chain reaction. A nuclear power station uses uranium fuel, a moderator like water to slow neutrons, and control rods to regulate the chain reaction to produce heat to generate electricity. Safety features include thick concrete shielding and control rods that can instantly stop the reaction in an emergency. Spent fuel is stored safely and responsibly.
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Describe the process of nuclear fission in terms of deformation of the nucleus.
Be able to describe and explain what is meant by a chain reaction.
Describe in detail how a nuclear power station works using: - Coolant Moderator Control rods In the appropriate way.
Describe the safety features of a nuclear power station.
Describe what is meant by critical mass. Be able to explain why uranium needs to be enriched for fission to occur.
SOURCES: CGP TEXTBOOK AND PHYSICS AND MATHS TUTOR
• Describe the process of nuclear fission in terms of deformation of the nucleus. • Nuclear fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into two daughter nuclei. • It occurs in very large nuclei, which are unstable (such as uranium), and occurs completely randomly, however it can also be induced. • Energy is released during fission because the smaller daughter nuclei have a higher binding energy per nucleon Chain reaction and induced fission • Fission can be induced in certain elements such as uranium-235, this is done by firing a thermal neutron into the uranium nucleus causing it to become extremely unstable. • Thermal neutrons have a low energy meaning they can induce fission whereas neutrons with a higher energy rebound away from the uranium-235 after a collision and do not cause a fission reaction. • The products of fission are two daughter nuclei and at least one neutron. The neutrons released during fission go on to cause more fission reactions forming a chain reaction, where each fission goes on to cause at least one more fission. CRITICAL MASS • The critical mass is the minimum mass of fuel required to maintain a steady chain reaction. Using exactly the critical mass of fuel will mean that a single fission reaction follows the last, while using less than the critical mass would lead the reaction to eventually stop Chain reaction diagram How power stations work. The three main components Moderator - this slows down the neutrons released in fission reactions to thermal speeds through elastic collisions between the nuclei of the moderator atoms and the fission neutrons. The closer the moderator atoms are in size to a neutron, the larger the proportion of momentum which is transferred, therefore the lower the number of collisions required to get the neutrons to thermal speeds. Because of this, water is often used as a moderator as it contains hydrogen, also it’s inexpensive and not very reactive making it a good material for a moderator. Graphite is also sometimes used as a moderator CONTROL RODS AND COOLANTS • Control rods absorb neutrons in the reactor in order to control chain reactions. The height of the control rods in the nuclear reactor can be controlled, in order to control the rate at which fission reactions occur to control the amount of energy produced. They are made of materials which absorb neutrons without undergoing fission such as boron and cadmium. • Coolant absorbs the heat released during fission reactions in the coe of the reactor. This heat is then used to make steam which powers electricity- generating turbines. Sometimes, water is both the coolant and moderator as it has a high specific heat capacity meaning it can transfer large amounts of thermal energy. Other materials such as molten salt or gas (e.g helium) can be used as a coolant. SAFETY FEATURES • The fuel rods are inserted into the reactor remotely to limit the worker’s exposure to radiation. • Around the nuclear reactor is a very thick concrete shielding, which blocks radiation from escaping from the reactor and affecting the workers in the power station • In an emergency, the control rods are dropped into the reactor core entirely in order to stop fission reactions from occuring as soon as possible by absorbing all the free neutrons in the core RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL OF SPENT RODS • The waste is removed and handled remotely, so that exposure is limited. • placed in cooling ponds for up to a year while they may still be producing heat due to radioactive emissions. Cooling ponds are usually on the same site as the reactor or very close by so that these materials do not have to be transported through long distances, which will increase the risk of exposure • any plutonium or usable uranium is removed from spent fuel rods in order to be recycled. • The waste is then vitrified (encased in glass) and placed in thick steel casks and stored in deep caverns in geologically stable locations
