Re: pinhole nuclear reactions

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From: Paul Doherty (pauld@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Wed Dec 17 2003 - 10:01:21 PST 

Message-Id: <l03110700bc064843f43d@[192.168.112.78]>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 10:01:21 -0800
From: Paul Doherty <pauld@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: Re: pinhole nuclear reactions

Hi Jessica

The amazing thing is that in a fission reaction, when a nucleus splits, the
work is done by electrostatic repulsion.

The two positively charged halves of the nucleus repel each other.

The two halves are normally held in place by strong short range nuclear
attractive forces. The long range electrostatic forces try to blow the
nucleus apart. Around uranium in the periodic table the nuclear and
electrostatic forces are nearly in balance. Add a neutron and disrupt the
nucleus and it can spontaneously fission.

Paul D

>I was teaching about atoms and my students came up with several good
>questions I was unable to answer. We were wondering where does all the
>energy come from in a nuclear bomb. How exactly does a nuclear reaction
>occur? Thanks for all all your help.
>
>Jessica
>
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