GCSE Drawing and Interpreting nuclear fission diagrams

GCSE Drawing and interpreting nuclear fission diagrams

Drawing and interpreting nuclear fission diagrams

You are expected to be able to draw and interpret diagrams like the one below

Nuclear fission reaction of uranium 235 forming daughter nuclei, 3 neutrons and releasing energy

Lets try drawing a diagram for the following equation

Induced fission reaction for U-235

 

First we will draw a slow moving neutron being absorbed by the U-235 nucleus, then draw the two daughter nuclei Ba-141 and Kr-92, finally draw 3 neutrons leaving. 

Nuclear fission reaction

You should be able to draw simplified block diagrams like this, provided it is clearly labelled such as the one above. If you want to you can draw the tiny circles to represent the protons and neutrons, but this is probably not needed.

Draw a diagram for a chain reaction. 

In each nuclear fission reaction, 1 neutron is used and 3 are produced. These 3 neutrons will go on and cause further fission reactions. 

chain reaction for nuclear fission

We can simplify this diagram to leave out the daughter nuclei.

Chain reaction for induced fission

 

In the first fission reaction, 3 neutrons are produced. These 3 neutrons will then go on and cause further fission reactions as shown

Practice Questions

1. Draw a diagram to represent the following equation

Nuclear fission equation for induced fission

2. Draw a diagram to represent the following equation

nuclear fission equation for spontaneous fission

3. Draw an example of a chain reaction showing 2 neutrons being produced in a fission reaction. 

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