R-AEPHY-16

Table of Contents

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Fusion will not be in the topic test, but in the exam.

Fission/nuclear reactors will be in the topic test.
Bombard large nuclei with neutrons then they have a tendency to become metastable and can split into multiple fragments.
- Fissionable - refers to nuclide which can undergo fission
- Fissile - nuclides which will readily undergo fission
- $U-235,Pu-239,Th-232,U-238$

Preventing a nuclear disaster

Concentration of fissile material
- $U-235$ occurs naturally, approx $0.7%$
- Power station - $4%$ (abundance)
- Bombs - $90%$
Amlunt of fuel
Shape of fuel (high SA:volume good, low SA means that emitted neutrons will...)