Energy From the Atom

Or… Energy From the Atom

Energy from the Atom Energy can be produced from either splitting atoms or combining them. Splitting atoms is called fission. Combining atoms is called fusion. Both produce enormous amounts of energy. …fission has 2 “s” so it can be split.

Fission Fission is the splitting of an atom, usually, uranium, into smaller atoms. To do this, uranium is “bombarded” by neutrons. When the uranium splits into its smaller pieces, more neutrons are released.

When the splitting occurs, the two pieces weigh slightly less than the original whole. This missing mass is turned into energy from Einstein’s equation E = mc 2 …a whole lot of energy! Some extra neutrons are also released Now, there are two ways you can go with this…

When “bombarding” uranium with neutrons, do it slowly so only small amounts of “a whole lot of energy” are released. This is called a controlled reaction. Also, use water to keep it cool and avoid a meltdown. Absorb a lot of heat and the water boils, which turns a turbine to produce electricity. This is called nuclear energy. #1

Three Mile Island, PA

Diablo Nuclear Power Plant, CA

Notice that when uranium is bombarded by neutrons, that the reaction itself releases more neutrons. Also notice that these fresh neutrons are available to smack into other uranium atoms. #2

When this process is uncontrolled, or allowed to proceed quickly on its own, all that huge amount of energy is released at one time in a huge explosion. This is the how the atom bombs worked that were dropped on Japan during WW II.

With great power comes great responsibility. - Spiderman It should be noted that when some of the scientists (who developed the atom bomb) saw how much power was produced, they were sorry they had help develop it. Even Einstein wrote a letter to President Truman urging him not to use the weapon.

Nuclear Fusion

Atoms are combined (opposite of fission). 4 hydrogen atoms are combined to make a single helium atom. Once again, mass is lost in the process, and again, this mass is converted into energy in the form of energy packets called photons…more later.

Fusion is how the sun produces energy. Occurs in the core of the sun (and all stars). Core temperature = 27 million degrees F …better bring your sunglasses! The internal pressure would make a bottle of Coke weigh about 175 pounds!

Each second the sun produces more energy than all of mankind has used during all of its entire existence. Over 1 million Earths could fit into the sun. Emits all types of energy, from low energy radio waves to high energy gamma waves. Energy released in the form of photons.

Fusion in the core makes energy, mostly in the form of light. This light has to work its way to the surface but the sun is tightly packed with material. The time light needs to reach the outside of the sun from the core is maybe 100,000 years. It takes only 8 m 19 s for sunlight to reach Mr. Earth. Light reaches Earth by traveling in “bundles” called photons.