PRE-U TEXT PHYSICS VOLUME 2 ISBN: 978 983 3879 85 4

PRE-U TEXT
Physics Volume 2

Chapter 35 Nuclear Reaction

Practice 35

At the end of this chapter you must know the following:

Nuclear reaction

Nuclear equation

Reaction Energy, Q

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fusion

STPM : 1999, P1/Q29; 2002, P1/Q5; 2005, P1/Q15; 2005, P1/Q16; 2005, P1/Q18
Reference : Pages 235 to 236

Guide

Nuclear reaction

Definition A nucleus undergoes changes due to bombardment by a

high speed nuclear particle

Nuclear equation

X+x Y+y

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PRE-U TEXT PHYSICS VOLUME 2 ISBN: 978 983 3879 85 4

Reaction energy, Q

X +x Y+y+Q

Q = (m)c2

A chain reaction can be

uncontrolled, as in a nuclear bomb

controlled, as in a nuclear reactor

In a nuclear fission reaction, a heavy nucleus splits into two fragments of near-

equal size while emitting two or more particles and releasing energy.

Nuclear fusion is the reaction brought about by fusing together the nuclei of two

light nuclides to form a single heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

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