top of page
Nuclear Fission
Self-Sustaining Process
Nuclear fission is a self-sustaining process, because once neutrons are released in the initial collision of a neutron with a uranium atom, a chain reaction is begun. These neutrons can then begin more fission reactions, which set off other fission reactions, and the cycle continues. The heat that these fission reactions create is able to produce steam, which later turns a turbine and creates electricity (Friedland and Relyea, 2015).
Definition
In a nuclear fission reaction, a neutron is fired at a typically large atom, and hits the nucleus.
This breaks up the atom into at least two parts and liberates other neutrons and energy as heat (Friedland and Relyea, 2015).
bottom of page