NE 101

Basics of Nuclear Engineering & Technology

Chapter 5:
Nuclear Reactions
Fission and Fusion
Dr. Ned Xoubi
‫الدكتور نضال الزعبي‬
Founder of the Nuclear Engineering Department
Fall Semester 2007/ 2008
 Fission

When atoms are bombarded with neutrons, their nuclei

splits into 2 parts which are roughly equal in size.

Nuclear fission in the process whereby a nucleus, with a

high mass number, splits into 2 nuclei which have
roughly equal smaller mass numbers.

During nuclear fission, neutrons are released.

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 Nuclear Fission

There are 2 types of fission that exist:

1. Spontaneous Fission

2. Induced Fission

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 Spontaneous Fission

Some radioisotopes contain nuclei which are highly

unstable and decay spontaneously by splitting into 2
smaller nuclei.

Such spontaneous decays are accompanied by the

release of neutrons.

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 Induced Fission

Nuclear fission can be induced by bombarding atoms

with neutrons.

The nuclei of the atoms then split into 2 equal parts.

Induced fission decays are also accompanied by the

release of neutrons.

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 The Fission Process
A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235
nucleus.

1 235
0 n 92 U

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 The Fission Process
A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235
nucleus.

1 235
0 n 92 U

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 The Fission Process
A neutron travels at high speed towards a uranium-235
nucleus.

1 235
0 n 92 U

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 The Fission Process
The neutron strikes the nucleus which then captures the
neutron.

1 235
0 n 92 U

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 The Fission Process
The nucleus changes from being uranium-235 to
uranium-236 as it has captured a neutron.

236
92 U

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 The Fission Process
The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

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 The Fission Process
The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

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 The Fission Process
The uranium-236 nucleus formed is very unstable.

It transforms into an elongated shape for a short time.

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 The Fission Process
It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases
neutrons.

1
0 n
141
56 Ba

1
0 n
92
36 Kr
1
0 n
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 The Fission Process
It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases
neutrons.
1
0 n
141
56 Ba

1
0 n

92
36 Kr
1
0 n
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 The Fission Process
It then splits into 2 fission fragments and releases neutrons.
1
0 n
141
56 Ba

1
0 n

92
36 Kr
1
0 n
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 The Fission Process
1
It then splits into 2 fission fragments
0 nand releases neutrons.
141
56 Ba

1
0 n

92
36 Kr
1 Nuclear Engineering Department
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 Nuclear Fission Examples

235 1 141 92 1

92
U + 0
n 56
Ba + 36
Kr + 3 0
n
235 1 138 96 1

92
U + 0
n 55
Cs + 37
Rb + 2 0
n

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 Energy from Fission
Both the fission fragments and neutrons travel at high
speed.
The kinetic energy of the products of fission are far
greater than that of the bombarding neutron and target
atom.
EK before fission << EK after fission

Energy is being released as a result of the fission reaction.

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 Energy from Fission
235 1 138 96 1

92
U + 0
n 55
Cs + 37
Rb + 2 0
n
Element Atomic Mass (kg)
235 3.9014 x 10-25
92U

138 2.2895 x 10-25

55Cs

96 1.5925 x 10-25
37Rb

1 1.6750 x 10-27
0n

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 Energy from Fission
Calculate the total mass before and after fission takes place.

The total mass before fission (LHS of the equation):

3.9014 x 10-25 + 1.6750 x 10-27 = 3.91815 x 10-25 kg

The total mass after fission (RHS of the equation):

2.2895 x 10-25 + 1.5925 x 10-25 + (2 x 1.6750 x 10-27) = 3.9155 x 10-25 kg

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 Energy from Fission

The total mass before fission = 3.91815 x 10-25 kg

The total mass after fission = 3.91550 x 10-25 kg

total mass before fission > total mass after fission

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 Energy from Fission

mass difference, m = total mass before fission – total mass after fission

m = 3.91815 x 10-25 – 3.91550 x 10-25

m = 2.65 x 10-28 kg

This reduction in mass results in the release of energy.

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 Energy Released

The energy released can be calculated using the equation:

E = mc2 E
Where:
m c2
E = energy released (J)
m = mass difference (kg)
c = speed of light in a vacuum (3 x 108 ms-1)
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 Energy from Fission
Calculate the energy released from the following fission
reaction:
235 1 138 96 1
92
U + 0
n 55
Cs + 37
Rb + 2 0
n
m = 2.65 x 10-28 kg E = mc2
c = 3 x 108 ms-1 E = 2.65 x 10-28 x (3 x 108)2
E=E E = 2.385 x 10-11 J

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 Energy
Energyfrom Fission
from Fission
The energy released from this fission reaction does not seem a
lot.

This is because it is produced from the fission of a single

nucleus.

Large amounts of energy are released when a large number of

nuclei undergo fission reactions.

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 Energy from Fission
Each uranium-235 atom has a mass of 3.9014 x 10-25 kg.

The total number of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 can

be found as follows:

No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 1/3.9014 x 10-25

No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 2.56 x 1024 atoms

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 Energy from Fission
If one uranium-235 atom undergoes a fission reaction and
releases 2.385 x 10-11 J of energy, then the amount of energy
released by 1 kg of uranium-235 can be calculated as follows:

total energy = energy per fission x number of atoms

total energy = 2.385 x 10-11 x 2.56 x 1024

total energy = 6.1056 x 1013 J

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 Nuclear Fusion
In nuclear fusion, two nuclei with low mass numbers
combine to produce a single nucleus with a higher mass
number.

2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy

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 The Fusion Process

2
1H

3
1H

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 The Fusion Process

2
1H

3
1H

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 The Fusion Process

2
1H

3
1H

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 The Fusion Process

2
1H

3
1H

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 The Fusion Process

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 The Fusion Process

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 The Fusion Process

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 The Fusion Process

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 The Fusion Process

1
0 n
4
2 He
EN
ER
GY

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 The Fusion Process

1
0 n

4
2 He

EN
ER
GY

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 The Fusion Process
1
0 n

4
2 He

EN
ER
GY
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 The Fusion Process
1
0 n

4
2 He

EN
ER
GY
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 The Fusion Process
2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy
Element Atomic Mass (kg)
2 H 3.345 x 10-27
1

3 H 5.008 x 10-27
1

4 He 6.647 x 10-27
2

1 n 1.6750 x 10-27
0

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 Energy from Fusion

Calculate the following:

• The mass difference.

• The energy released per fusion.

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 Energy from Fusion
2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy
The total mass before fusion (LHS of the equation):

3.345 x 10-27 + 5.008 x 10-27 = 8.353 x 10-27 kg

The total mass after fission (RHS of the equation):

6.647 x 10-27 + 1.675 x 10-27 = 8.322 x 10-27 kg

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 Energy from Fusion

m = total mass before fission – total mass after fission

m = 8.353 x 10-27 – 8.322 x 10-27

m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg

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 Energy from Fusion
2 3 4 1

1
H + 1
H 2
He + 0
n + Energy
m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg E = mc2
c = 3 x 108 ms-1 E = 3.1 x 10-29 x (3 x 108)2
E=E E = 2.79 x 10-12 J

The energy released per fusion is 2.79 x 10-12 J.

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