Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission has changed our world in many ways since it was discovered, being used mainly for power generation and weapons. Many people don’t really understand how it works, however, and simulations such as these can help you out.

Nuclear Fission is a Java-based application designed to help teachers explain the basics of nuclear fission and how it is used in the modern world. It includes three very accessible simulations.

Uranium 235 was used in early nuclear bombs, and still sees some use today, and it is one of the two main fuels for nuclear reactors. It is an unstable isotope, and it can sustain a chain reaction when a nucleus is hit with a neutron.

The first experiment is quite simple, requiring you to fire a neutron at a Uranium 235 nucleus. It will split into smaller nuclei and release neutrons that can continue the chain reaction.

When a Uranium 235 nucleus undergoes fission, it released additional neutrons that can strike other nearby nuclei and continue the reaction. The second experiment allows you to observe such a chain reaction.

You can customize the proportion of Uranium 235 and Uranium 238 nuclei. Since the latter is a stable isotope, it can either slow down the reaction or halt it altogether.

Nuclear fission is also used for power generation, and you can see how a reactor is set up in the final simulation. Using the control rods, you can manage the speed of the chain reaction or even stop it completely in order to control the power output and energy production.

In short, Nuclear Fission is an interesting program that can help teachers explain the basics of nuclear fission to their students. It is very accessible and easy to use.