How does nuclear fission occur?
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei, releasing energy and often free neutrons.
Physical mechanism and core principles
Some nuclei become unstable after absorbing a neutron and split. Released neutrons may trigger further fissions, and neutron balance controls chain-reaction growth.
Evidence, applications and limits
Reactors manage the rate with control rods, cooling and safety barriers. Radioactive fission products have different half-lives and require long-term waste planning. Quantitative interpretation must state boundary conditions, units and ideal-model assumptions.
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