Nukleaatiorataus

Nukleaatiorataus, also known as nuclear fission, is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy. This process is the basis for nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The most common fuel for nuclear fission is uranium-235, which is a fissile isotope of uranium. When a neutron collides with a uranium-235 nucleus, it can cause the nucleus to split into two smaller nuclei, along with a few neutrons and a significant amount of energy.

The energy released during nuclear fission is primarily in the form of kinetic energy of the fission fragments and gamma rays. This energy can be harnessed to generate heat, which is then used to produce steam and drive turbines to generate electricity in nuclear power plants. The process of nuclear fission is also the basis for nuclear weapons, where the rapid release of energy causes a chain reaction that results in an explosion.

Nuclear fission is a highly efficient process, with a single gram of uranium-235 releasing about 1.14 x 10^14 joules of energy, which is equivalent to burning about 1.5 tons of coal. However, it also produces radioactive waste that remains hazardous for thousands of years. The management and disposal of this waste is a significant challenge in the field of nuclear energy.

The process of nuclear fission was first discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938, and its potential for energy production was recognized by Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch. Since then, nuclear fission has been a subject of extensive research and development, with numerous countries developing nuclear power programs and nuclear weapons.