| Nuclear fission is the splitting of the
nucleus of an atom. Only a few elements are suitable for use in this way, the
most important ones being Uranium-235, Uranium-233, and Plutonium-239. When a
nucleus of one of these elements is struck by a free neutron it breaks down into
two lighter nuclei which fly apart at high speed, colliding with surrounding
atoms. Their kinetic energy is converted into heat energy. At the same time, two
or three free neutrons are released and one of them enters the nucleus of a
neighbouring atom, causing fission to occur again; and so on. The reaction
spreads very quickly, with more and more heat energy released. This is called a
"chain" reaction because the splitting of each nucleus is linked to another, and
another and another. If this reaction takes place in an atomic bomb, where nothing is done to slow it down, the result is a violent explosion that can destroy a town in a few seconds. Fission can also, however, take place within a construction called a nuclear reactor, or atomic pile. Here the highly fissile material (U-235, U-233, Pu-239) is surrounded by a substance that is non-fissile, for instance graphite. This material is called a moderator. The neutrons lose some of their energy and speed through colliding with the atoms of the moderator. Energy—heat energy—is still created on an enormous scale, but no expansion takes place. The moderator has another function: by slowing down the speed of the free neutrons, it makes it more likely that one of them will collide with the nucleus of a neighbouring atom to continue the chain reaction. The chief advantage of nuclear energy is that it does not depend on any local factors. A nuclear reactor, unlike an oil-well or a coalmine, does not have to be sited on top of a fossil-fuel source; unlike the solar energy unit, it does not have to go out of production when the sun is not shining; unlike hydro-electric power, it does not depend on a large flow of water which may be reduced during some seasons of the year. With an atomic power station, the only limiting factor is that of safety. In the opposite process, nuclear fusion, two nuclei come together, to form a new nucleus of a different kind and this process also releases energy on an enormous scale. Fusion can only occur under conditions of very great heat—at least 50000000 degrees Celsius. (The temperature at the centre of the sun is estimated as 130000000 degrees Celsius.) A fusion reaction on earth has already been created—the hydrogen bomb. This is an uncontrolled reaction. It is not yet possible to produce a controlled fusion reaction that can be used for the production of useful energy. Nuclear energy can be thought of as a kind of square, Three of the quarters of the square are known and used, but the fourth cannot yet be used. |