8. Collision between neutrons and nucleus of the moderator results in slowing down the newly born fast neutrons. Such a collision is depicted in the figure. The striking fast neutron has an initial energy En and an initial momentum pa. The tar- get nucleus is initially at rest. Considering an elastic scattering, following the col- lision, the scattered neutron has an energy of E, and momentum of p, while the recoiling nucleus has an energy of Ey and momentum of py. Use the conserva- tion of momentum and energy to drive a relation for energy of the scattered neu- tron in terms of the initial neutron energy and mass number of the target nucleus. [Hint: Find the momentum of the recoiling nucleus in terms of the momentum of the initial and the scattered neutron. Substitute for momentum terms (p = 2mE) and for the recoiling energy from the energy balance]. Scattered Neutron E, Pa EN Striking Target Pa Neutron Nucleus Recoiling Nucleus PN
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is a type of nuclear reaction in which heavier nuclei split into lighter nuclei by releasing a large quantity of energy. The elements like uranium-235 and plutonium-239 isotope undergo nuclear fission releasing energy. When nuclei undergo fission, some quantity of mass is lost. The lost mass is converted to nuclear energy. Nuclear fission reaction is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs. In nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors are used to generate electricity.
Endothermic Nuclear Reaction
A nuclear reaction can be described as a process where two atoms, or two nuclei or nucleus and subatomic particles such as a proton, neutron interact together, and a large amount of energy is produced and new elements are also produced.
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