answersLogoWhite

0

Splitting an atom (fission) releases energy and more than one neutron. If there is a nearby atom, the neutron can cause the atom to split, releasing more neutrons. The "chain reaction" proceeds exponentially. At each split more energy is released. Eventually the energy is sufficient to wipe out whole cities: an explosion.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Why does splitting an atom create an explosion?

Splitting an atom creates an explosion because it releases a large amount of energy in a short amount of time. This energy is released in the form of heat and radiation, causing a rapid and powerful expansion of gases, resulting in an explosion.


Splitting from an atom is called what?

Splitting an atom is called nuclear fission. This process releases a large amount of energy and is the principle behind nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.


Whats the process of splitting the atom called?

The process of splitting the atom is called nuclear fission. In nuclear fission, a heavy atomic nucleus is split into two or more lighter nuclei along with the release of a large amount of energy.


Can the energy from splitting an atom be contained and used?

Yes, the energy released from splitting an atom (nuclear fission) can be contained and used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants. This energy is harnessed through controlled chain reactions that produce heat to create steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity.


How a nuclear bomb works?

Well, the technical explanation is very complicated, so I will make it more simple: there are the fission bomb, and the thermonuclear bomb. The fission bomb makes an explosion through the splitting of atom. Atom is the smallest measurement. There are neutrons and photons in a atom. But when you split the atom to make a big explosion, you do not use any atom. We usually use an atom of uranium-235. When the uranium atom is split, the normal amount of neutrons or photons does not come out. Then the neutrons release lots of energy! (Very simple explanation: A fission bomb is a bomb that uses energy from splitting uncontrolled atoms. And a thermonuclear bomb is just opposite to fission bomb, it gets energy from fusion of atoms to make a heavier one.

Related Questions

Which is bigger a nuclear or atomic explosion?

Nuclear explosions are the result of splitting the atom. It is actually what powers the sun.


Why does splitting an atom create an explosion?

Splitting an atom creates an explosion because it releases a large amount of energy in a short amount of time. This energy is released in the form of heat and radiation, causing a rapid and powerful expansion of gases, resulting in an explosion.


How nuclear weapons are used?

Well they are dropped or fired to cause the expolsion, although this explosion only comes by the splitting of an atom.


What is the term for splitting a atom?

When you split an atom, you create a nuclear fission. The energy from splitting that atom is converted to electricity. To split an atom means to literally "break it in half." An atom has a nucleus with negatively charged electrons around it. The reaction of the atom splitting is so large that a small amount can convert into numerous amounts of energy.


Splitting from an atom is called what?

Splitting an atom is called nuclear fission. This process releases a large amount of energy and is the principle behind nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.


How it's called the splitting of the atom?

Nuclear fission


Does nuclear fusion involve splitting an atom?

yep


Nuclear fission reactions involve the .?

Splitting of atom


What is the process of splitting an atom called?

The process of splitting an atom is called nuclear fission. This is when the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. Nuclear fission is the process that powers nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.


Whats the nuclear reaction of fission?

The splitting of a nucleus atom


What form of nuclear energy splits a nucleus?

Splitting an atom is Fission.


What is called splitting the nucleus of an atom to release energy?

Nuclear fission