Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 15/02/2015 18:30:02

Title: How does nuclear fission work?
Post by: thedoc on 15/02/2015 18:30:02

Stanley Menjivar asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I am a 11th grader at Arleta high school and for fun I am reading book about matter and I came across the nuclear fission part. My question is if this chain reaction will produce just many protons and neutrons and the gamma rays of course or will the chain reaction produce other nuclei from other atoms?

What do you think?

Title: Re: How does nuclear fission work?
Post by: PmbPhy on 16/02/2015 01:23:20

Quote from: thedoc on 15/02/2015 18:30:02

Stanley Menjivar asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I am a 11th grader at Arleta high school and for fun I am reading book about matter and I came across the nuclear fission part. My question is if this chain reaction will produce just many protons and neutrons and the gamma rays of course or will the chain reaction produce other nuclei from other atoms?

What do you think?

Yes. Of course. In fact that's exactly what the term fission means. It means that atoms are breaking up into other atoms when nuclei hit them.