Nuclear Fission

Definition

Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy. This process is typically initiated by bombarding the nucleus with a neutron.

Related terms

Nuclear Fusion:

Nuclear fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, releasing an enormous amount of energy in the process.

Chain Reaction: In the context of nuclear reactions, chain reaction refers to a self-sustaining series of reactions where each reaction triggers subsequent reactions. It can lead to an exponential increase in the number of reactions and release large amounts of energy.

Critical Mass: Critical mass represents the minimum amount of fissile material required for self-sustained nuclear fission. If there is less than this critical mass present, sustained fission cannot occur.