Edexcel IGCSE Physics 7.18 Nuclear fission

Practise describing U-235 fission in reactors, naming suitable fuels and using given ratios to calculate energy released per nucleus.

Exam points

describe fission as a neutron splitting U-235 into daughter nuclei and neutrons
state that useful reactor energy is released as kinetic or thermal energy
calculate energy per fission from a given energy ratio, keeping J and powers of ten clear

[Maximum number: 5]

Diagram 1 shows some of the stages of electricity generation in a nuclear power station.

Diagram 1

(a)

Nuclear fission takes place inside the reactor of the nuclear power station.

[ 5 ]

(i)

Give the name of a fuel that could be used in the reactor.

[ 1 ]

(ii)

Energy is released from the fuel in the reactor by nuclear fission.

Describe the process of nuclear fission that takes place inside the reactor.

[ 4 ]

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