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Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion: Source of Energy

ICSE · Class 12 · Physics

Quick revision notes for Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion: Source of Energy — ICSE Class 12 Physics. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.

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A step-by-step diagram illustrating the process of nuclear fission, specifically a chain reaction initiated by a neutron striking a Uranium-235 nucleus, leading to the release of energy and more neutr
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Key Topics to Revise

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1. Nuclear Fission

  • In 1939, Hahn and Strassmann observed that when uranium nucleus with atomic number 92 was bombarded with neutrons, it split into isotopes of barium and krypton.
  • Meitner and Frisch named this phenomenon nuclear fission.
  • Nuclear fission is a process in which a heavy nucleus, after capturing a thermal neutron of energy 0.027 eV, splits up into two lighter nuclei of comparable masses.
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2. Chain Reaction, Critical Size, and Multiplication Factor

  • A chain reaction starts when neutrons produced in one fission cause further fissions.
  • If more than one emitted neutron causes further fission, the reaction grows rapidly and becomes uncontrolled.
  • If the reaction is controlled so that, on average, only one neutron continues the chain, the reaction remains steady.
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3. Nuclear Reactor and Its Parts

  • A nuclear reactor is a device in which a self-sustaining controlled chain reaction is produced in a fissionable material.
  • The main fuel used is uranium enriched with U-235 or Pu-239.
  • A moderator slows fast neutrons to thermal energies by elastic collisions.
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4. Production of Plutonium-239 and Reactor Types

  • In a reactor, neutrons not used in the fission chain reaction can be absorbed by U-238 to form U-239.
  • U-239 is unstable and beta decays into Np-239.
  • Np-239 also beta decays into Pu-239.

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Key Concepts

Nuclear fission is a processUA typical UNeutrons released in one fission canK is the ratio of

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion: Source of Energy for ICSE Class 12 Physics?
Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion: Source of Energy covers several key topics that are frequently asked in ICSE Class 12 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
How to score full marks in Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion: Source of Energy — ICSE Class 12 Physics?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 69 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

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