Tuumalõhustumist

Tuumalõhustumist, also known as nuclear fission, is a nuclear reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei. This process releases a large amount of energy, primarily in the form of kinetic energy of the fission products and gamma radiation. Tuumalõhustumist can occur spontaneously in some heavy isotopes, but it is most commonly induced by bombarding the nucleus with a neutron. When a neutron strikes a fissile nucleus, such as Uranium-235, it can absorb the neutron, becoming unstable. This unstable nucleus then splits, typically producing two smaller nuclei, several free neutrons, and a significant amount of energy. The released neutrons can then go on to strike other fissile nuclei, leading to a chain reaction.

The energy released during tuumalõhustumist is the result of the mass-energy equivalence principle, where a small amount of mass is converted into energy according to Einstein's famous equation E=mc². The binding energy per nucleon is greater in the smaller nuclei than in the original heavy nucleus, meaning the products are in a more stable, lower-energy state. This energy release is harnessed in nuclear power plants to generate electricity and is also the principle behind nuclear weapons. Controlled chain reactions are used in reactors, while uncontrolled reactions are used in bombs. The byproducts of tuumalõhustumist include radioactive isotopes, which require careful management and disposal due to their long-term radioactivity.