What are the example of nuclear fission?

Answer 1

The only example of nuclear fission in a naturally occurring material is of Uranium 235, which comprises 0.7 percent of natural uranium, the rest being Uranium 238 which is not fissile. To use U235 in a nuclear reactor it is usually enriched to about 4 percent first, though reactors have been designed to use natural uranium. These have to use graphite or heavy water as moderator, as normal water absorbs too many neutrons.

During reactor operation some of the U238 absorbs a neutron and becomes Plutonium 239 which is also fissile, so this contributes to a proportion of the reactor power which increases as the fuel is used and the U235 diminishes.

Answer 2

Examples of nuclear fission include the splitting of uranium-235 or plutonium-239 atoms into smaller nuclei, releasing energy and additional neutrons in the process. This chain reaction is utilized in nuclear power plants to generate electricity, as well as in nuclear weapons to create a powerful explosion.

Answer 3

1. Nuclear fission reactors
2. Nuclear fission bombs