nuclear fission
1
the process or action of splitting a nucleus into two or more parts resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy
- Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.
- The discovery of nuclear fission in the 1930s paved the way for the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear power reactors.
- Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are commonly used as fuel in nuclear fission reactors.
- The chain reaction in a nuclear fission reactor is carefully controlled to ensure that the energy released is harnessed for electricity generation without causing a runaway reaction.
- Nuclear fission is also used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment through techniques such as radiotherapy.
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