Select the option that describes nuclear fission.

A) Forming a single heavy nucleus from two lighter nuclei

B)Nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei

C) The decay of an atom's nucleus

D)It is the time required to become half of the original

answer

watching

154

views

For unlimited access to Homework Help, a Homework+ subscription is required.

You have 0 free answers left.
Get unlimited access to 3.8 million step-by-step answers.

Get unlimited access

Already have an account? Log in

Reid WolffLv2

30 Jul 2019

Unlock all answers

Get 1 free homework help answer.

Already have an account? Log in

Related questions

The primary source of the Sun's energy is

(a) fusion of light nuclei to make heavier ones;

(b) fission of heavy nuclei into lighter ones;

(d) the solar magnetic field.

coffeeleopard341

In nuclear fission, a nucleus splits roughly in half.

(a) What is the potential m from a fragment that has 46 protons in it?

(b) What is the potential energy in MeV of a similarly charged fragment at this distance?

chocolateplatypus820

The Sun is powered by nuclear fusion. In each chain reaction, four hydrogen nuclei fuse together to become a single helium nucleus. The total combined mass of the individual hydrogen nuclei before the reaction is greater than the mass of the helium nucleus. The mass lost as a result of this chain reaction is turned into energy according to Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc² (Chapter 39). Consider the first part of the chain reaction in which two hydrogen nuclei (each a single proton) fuse. Figure P8.56A shows the potential energy curve of a two-proton system. The energy in this graph is given in keV, where “eV” is the abbreviation for the unit electron-volt and 1 eV = 1.6 × 10−19 J. When the protons are more than about 2 fm (2 × 10−15 m) apart, the potential energy is positive. When the protons are close together, the potential energy is negative, and the protons are fused. Figure P8.56B shows a close-up of the potential energy curve when the protons are far apart.

a. What is the minimum mechanical energy required for the two protons to fuse? Give your answer in keV.
b. The mechanical energy of an average two-proton system in the Sun is around 2 keV. What is the minimum distance between the protons in such a system?
c. Explain why it seems impossible for fusion to take place in the Sun. Note: Of course, fusion must take place in the Sun. Although it seems impossible according to classical mechanics, quantum mechanics (Part VI) makes fusion possible. According to quantum mechanics, the seemingly impossible is merely improbable, and even events with a low probability of occurrence may still happen. Because there are so many protons in the Sun, there is a good chance that at any moment many of them will fuse.