Nuclear fusion however is the reaction in which two or more nuclei combine together to form a new element with higher atomic number. The fusion of two nuclei with lower masses than iron generally releases energy, while the fusion of nuclei heavier than iron absorbs energy. This means that fusion generally occurs for lighter elements only, and likewise, that fission normally occurs only for heavier elements. For a nuclear fusion reaction to occur it is necessary to bring two nuclei so close that nuclear forces become active and glue the nuclei together. Nuclear forces are small-distance forces and have to act against the electrostatic forces where positively charged nuclei repel each other.
Developing nuclear power use in space and as a propulsion system would be beneficial for space exploration and scientific research by allowing the National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) to explore farther and have faster travel times within the solar system and galaxy, by providing substantial power for manned exploration to other planetary bodies, and by allowing space probes and satellites to carry more instruments and operate longer. Nuclear propulsion allows for farther and faster travel times within the solar system and galaxy. The current propulsion system used by all space agencies is chemical propulsion. Chemical propulsion involves igniting millions of pounds of rocket fuel to produce thrust. Chemical propulsion is the only way to get spacecraft from the surface of the planet but once in space, it’s a different story.
Spitzer Space Telescope Make It bigger! Make it better! Telescopes have been around since the sixteen hundred’s; why not build a bigger better telescope in space! Space has always been a place of wonder for the human race. Objects appear to be close but are often many light years away from earth.
Iran claims the recent uranium stockpile is specifically for the use of their peaceful energy program; however, the United States and other P5 countries share the concern that the stockpile and dramatic production increase needs to be stopped immediately, preventing Iran from creating nuclear weapons. Iran’s nuclear program is assumed to be capable of creating a nuclear weapon within the next year. In a speech addressed to the UN General Assembly Netanyahu physically drew a red line on a diagram of a cartoon bomb under a divided section marked, “final stage” (Nichols 1). Netanyahu and other experts suggest that if uranium enrichment stockpiles remain at these levels or increase, Iran will be capable of nuclear weapons and sooner than expected. Netanyahu’s illustration for his speech approximates Iran is 90 percent along the way to the creation of nuclear weapons.
Life Cycle of a Star Pamela Hughes May 17, 2011 SCI/151 Norman Stradleigh Life Cycle of a Star On a clear dark night, one can see thousands of stars. We can see many stars but could never dream of being able to count them all. Even though each individual star is unique, all stars share much in common. The Sun, which is the source of virtually all light, heat, and energy reaching the Earth, is the nearest star. Today, we know that stars are born from interstellar gas clouds, shine by nuclear fusion and then die, sometimes in dramatic ways.
By contrast, an electron in Bohr's model emits no energy, as long as its energy has one of the above-mentioned values. However, an electron which is not in the lowest energy level (n = 1), can make a spontaneous change to a lower state and thereby emit the energy difference in the form of a photon (particle of light). By calculating the wavelengths of the corresponding electromagnetic waves, one will get the same results as by measuring the lines of the hydrogen spectrum. Data |Quantum number |Radius (10-11) |Total Energy eV | |1 |5.29 |-13.60
Both of which were discovered in the second quarter of the twentieth century. In the nuclear fission reaction, as the name implies, a nucleus is broken into smaller parts while in nuclear fusion light nuclei are combined to form a single massive nucleus. Although nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions have same basic purpose of energy derivation, still there is a contrast in the conditions under which these reactions occur as well as their effect on our health. The main purpose of a nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reaction is to gain energy. To understand how energy is released; we must know the fact that during any of the two processes, the mass of the products is always less than the mass of the reactants and this deficit in the mass is converted into energy in accordance with Einstein’s mass energy relationship.
Nuclear fission only produces steam from the power plants, causing no harm to the environment. However nuclear power is less clean before and after production. Uranium atoms are split in a series of nuclear reactions to produce a surge of heat energy which boils water, to produce steam which turns turbines, powering generators to form electricity. The uranium must be mined from other sites however and be transported to the plants, which can mean expensive importing costs, and the environmental cost of carbon dioxide produced in the transport of uranium. After production, the radioactive waste produced in nuclear power is incredibly harmful and can take years to decay and no longer be radioactive.
The critical process requires that one neutron from each fission process produces only one more fission process. This way is more controlled and happens at a steady pace. A supercritical process is when each fission process produces more than one neutron and each neutron causes only fission processes. This process produces rapidly and becomes uncontrollable causing an explosion to happen. The critical mass is the amount of fissionable material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction at the critical level.
The Effects the Moon has on Earth As the moon dances along its orbit in uniform motion with the earth, we see it going from a new moon to full moon and back. We normally think that the moon has no effect on us whatsoever, but in reality, we wouldn’t be where we are now without the moon. The effects the moon has on the earth are ocean tides, the length of our day, months, and animal behavior. The moon tries to pull the earth closer with its gravity. But with the earth being three times more massive than the moon, it is able to stay in place.