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Flashcards in nucleur fission and fusion Deck (8)
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1
Q

what is nuclear fission

A

the splitting up of big atomic nuclei

2
Q

what causes fission to take place

A

a neutron absorbing into a nucleus, making it unstable and causing it to split

3
Q

what happens during fission

A

-when the unstable nucleus splits, a few neutrons get spat out, causing a chain reaction

4
Q

what is nuclear fusion

A

the joining of small atomic nuclei

5
Q

what is a pro of fission

A

-gives out a lot of energy

6
Q

what are the cons of fission

A
  • hard to dispose of waste
  • highly radioactive
  • radiation leaks
7
Q

what are the pros of fusion

A
  • releases a lot of energy

- doesn’t leave much waste

8
Q

what are the cons of fusion

A

-only works at high temperatures