1. Uses of Nuclear Reactions

2. Fission vs. Fusion Splitting of large nuclei into smaller
Releases lots of energy (106 times a chem rxn)(E=mc2)
Occurs in nuclear power plants
Atomic bomb
Combining smaller nuclei into larger
Releases even more energy than fission (3-4 times greater)
Occurs in sun/stars
H-bomb, thermonuclear bomb

3. Fission reaction

4. Fusion

5. Nuclear power plant

6. Nuclear Power Plant

7. Nuclear Power Plant Control Rods: Cadmium (Cd): absorb n0
Moderator: water or graphite: slow n0
Fuel: U-235

8. Detection
Film badge: photographic paper that gets exposed. Used only to monitor, not detect
Geiger Counter: gas filled tube to detect radiation through audible clicks
Scintillation Counter: phosphor-coated surface that produces flashes of light when exposed to radiation

9. Uses of Radiation Smoke detectors: Americium-241]
Food irradiation: Cobalt-60 (gamma)
Radioactive tracers to:
Study processes in plants (P-32)
Diagnose medical conditions
Thyroid disorders: Iodine-131
Bone scans: Te-99
Medical treatment: cancer

10. Specific Uses of Tracers