HOW DOES A NUCLEAR BOMB WORK?
(NUCLEAR FISSION)
U-235 isotopes are used for nuclear bombs as explosive
matter. U-235 has not got a stable nucleus, so it is a
radioactive matter.
An atomic bomb explosion is required a chain reaction.
This reaction consists of three steps. First, a neutron
hits the unstable nucleus of U-235; U-235 absorbs that
neutron and becomes U-236 isotope. Second, because
of the atom is unstable, the atom breaks up two different
atoms: Kr and Ba. Also more neutrons, heat and extreme
amount of energy are produced with breakdown. Third,
the neutrons which are released with breakdown hit
other U-235 isotopes, and those isotopes release more
neutrons, and these neutrons hit more isotopes. The
result is massive amount of radiation and heat that able
to erase a city from maps.
Scientists call that chain reaction as fission, and they use
fission for producing nuclear power too. But the main
point is the control of chain reaction, controlling the
number of neutrons which are free. Otherwise it may
cause a nuclear disaster like Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
According to scientists, nuclear power can be used as a
safe energy source, but even a little mistake will cause
a disaster that effect many people and make cities
inhabitable.
What About Hydrogen
Bombs?
Another principal is used to produce or explode hydrogen
bombs. Because of hydrogen has only one proton, you
cannot break that atom, also it isn’t radioactive. “Fusion”
is used. Fission is the breakdown of a radioactive atom,
but fusion is colliding of two different atoms at a very
high speed and joins to form a new type of atomic
nucleus. Usually hydrogen is used in fusion bombs, so it
called as hydrogen bomb.
Sun combines H with different kind of atoms in order to
get energy. But for now, it is impossible to use fusion as
energy producing method for humanity.
İlke AKOVA
Prep-B
THE CLAPPER 2014 - 2015
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