7.3 Fisión y fusión nuclear

Nuclear Fusion and Fission Processes

Nuclear Fission Process

• Nuclear fission is described as a reaction where a heavy nucleus is bombarded with neutrons, becoming unstable and splitting into two lighter nuclei known as fission products. This process releases a significant amount of energy.

• The released neutrons (2 to 3) can initiate a chain reaction, where these neutrons cause further fissions in other nuclei, leading to successive reactions.

• Fission reactions can be controlled or uncontrolled. Controlled reactions occur in nuclear power plants for electricity generation, while uncontrolled reactions are the basis for nuclear weapons like atomic bombs.

Nuclear Fusion Process

• Nuclear fusion is characterized as the reverse of fission, involving the collision of two light nuclei that combine to form a heavier nucleus while simultaneously releasing a large amount of energy.