Nuclear reactions
Foundational definitions
Unified atomic mass unit (u): a unit of mass equal to one-twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
Mass defect: the difference between the mass of a particular nucleus and the total mass of its constituent parts.
Binding energy: the energy needed to completely disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its constituent parts (protons and neutrons).
Binding energy per nucleon: the average energy required to remove an individual nucleon from the nucleus.
Fusion
Light nuclei fusing to form heavier, more stable nuclei
More stable = increase in binding energy per nucleon
Fission
Massive nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei
Increases binding energy per nucleon
Nuclear power generation
Each fission releases energy (uranium/plutonium)
Smaller nuclides gain kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is transferred to water
Water turns into steam that drives turbines (mechanical energy)
Nuclear power generation
Works on the principle of nuclear fission
o Each time a uranium (U) nucleus or a plutonium (Pu) nucleus undergoes fission energy is released.
o The smaller nuclides gain kinetic energy
o The kinetic energy is transferred to water to convert it into steam.
o The steam is used to spin a turbine (mechanical energy) to produce carbon-free electricity.