Easyphysics
GCSE - OCR 21 Century
 P3 Radioactive Materials
Glossary

Did you know? 

The atomic bomb uses the process of nuclear fission while the hydrogen bomb uses the process of nuclear fusion.

 

     

 P3 Nuclear Fission

Syllabus Summary Questions Answers

       

   1.  Nuclear fission occurs when the nucleus of an unstable uranium absorbs a slow moving

        neutron and splits into two smaller nuclei, roughly equal in size and 2 or 3 neutrons. 

   2.  The neutrons released from a nuclear fission create a chain reaction, they are absorbed by

        the unstable uranium and the process repeats itself as long as there are enough uranium atoms.

                                           

   3. The missing words are:

       The most common fuel used in a nuclear power station is uranium.

       Chain reaction is controlled by the use of control rods.

       The radioactive waste from nuclear power stations remain active for thousands of years.

       A coolant takes heat away from the nuclear reactor to a boiler where steam is made.

   4. Table about the disposal of different types of nuclear waste:

Low level Intermediate level High level
 Packed in drums
 and dumped in a 
 lined landfill site.
 Mixed with
 concrete and
 stored in stainless
 steel containers.
 Very difficult to
 store as the
 radiation damages
 the container.