10 days ago

what is fission?

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Adam Zeidan

Encyclopedia Britannica Editor

7 days ago

Generally speaking, fission is the "splitting or breaking up [of something] into parts."

The word is usually used within the context of nuclear fission, in which the nucleus of an atom is broken up into parts. It occurs when the nucleus of a heavy atom is bombarded by neutrons, dividing the nucleus into lighter nuclei. The bombarded nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons, emits enough neutrons of its own to continue the bombardment against nearby nuclei in a self-sustaining chain reaction. When that chain reaction is controlled, the large amount of energy released by nuclear fission can be harnessed for power; when uncontrolled, the energy is highly destructive.

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