Which process occurs when one nucleus splits to form two smaller nuclei?
a
fission
b
fusion
c
radioactive decay
a) fission
The process that occurs when one nucleus splits to form two smaller nuclei is called nuclear fission.
To understand this concept, we need to have some background knowledge about the structure of an atom. At the center of an atom, there is a nucleus which is composed of protons and neutrons. When the nucleus of a heavy atom, such as uranium or plutonium, is bombarded with a neutron, it becomes unstable.
This instability causes the nucleus to split into two smaller nuclei, releasing a significant amount of energy in the process. Additionally, a few more neutrons are also released during nuclear fission. These released neutrons can then go on to cause further fission reactions, creating a chain reaction.
Nuclear fission is the process behind the energy production in nuclear power plants and is also used in nuclear weapons. It is an example of a controlled chain reaction in nuclear reactors, where the energy released is used to generate electricity.