Nuclear fission - Decay Chains, Charge Distribution

nuclear fission

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What is the difference between nuclear fission and fusion?

average binding energy per nucleon as a function of the mass number

potential energy as a function of elongation of a fissioning nucleus

What the fission of a uranium nucleus by a neutron looks like

mass distribution dependence on the energy excitation in the fission of uranium-235

schematic illustrations of single-humped and double-humped fission barriers

How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity?

For Students

nuclear fission summary

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In order to maintain stability, the neutron-to-proton (n/p) ratio in nuclei must increase with increasing proton number. The ratio remains at unity up to the element calcium, with 20 protons. It then gradually increases until it reaches a value of about 1.5 for the heaviest elements. When a heavy nucleus fissions, a few neutrons are emitted; however, this still leaves too high an n/p ratio in the fission fragments to be consistent with stability for them. They undergo radioactive decay and reach stability by successive conversions of neutrons to protons with the emission of a negative electron (called a beta ...(100 of 8269 words)

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