Nuclear fission

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nuclear-fission

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Nuclear fission?1938
2. What is the primary fissile isotopes?Uranium-235 (U-235) and Plutonium-239 (Pu-239)
3. What is the energy release mechanism?Conversion of mass defect into energy via E=mc²
4. How does a chain reaction happen in a nuclear reactor?When one atom splits, it releases neutrons that can split other atoms. Control rods and moderators help keep the reaction steady and safe.
5. Why is nuclear fission useful for making electricity?It produces a steady, powerful source of energy that doesn’t create carbon pollution, helping fight climate change.

Fission Fragments: The smaller nuclei produced when a heavy atom splits during nuclear fission.
Critical Mass: The minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
Moderator: A material used in nuclear reactors to slow down fast neutrons, increasing the probability of fission.