Question

What is nuclear fission and how is usable energy produced from nuclear fission?

Answer 1

nuclear fission is the splitting of an unstable atomic nuclei into smaller more stable nuclei. There is a loss of mass that produces immense amounts of energy.

Explanation:

Nuclear fission results from the splitting of an atom. When the atom splits into smaller atoms there is a loss of mass which produces energy.

`E = mc^2` is the equation produced by Einstein's theory of relativity.

E = energy
m = mass ( loss in the case of fission)
`c^2` = the speed of light squared. (186,000 miles per second squared. or 34596000000 miles per second

Think about the power of a small bullet fired from a high powered weapon. The velocity of a high powered weapon is multiple powers of ten less than the speed of light squared. The energy produced by the loss of even a small amount of mass, is immense.

Think about the power of the atomic bomb which is based on nuclear fission.

Nuclear fission is the splitting of an atom which releases a huge amount of energy.