fission

Biology

(noun)

the process by which a bacterium splits to form two daughter cells

Related Terms

  • per capita
Chemistry

(noun)

The process of splitting the nucleus of an atom into smaller particles; nuclear fission.

Related Terms

  • nuclear weapon
  • fusion

Examples of fission in the following topics:

  • Nuclear Fission

    • Nuclear fission is a process by which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, known as fission products.
    • Most fissions are binary fissions that produce two charged fragments.
    • These nuclei are called unstable, and this instability can result in radiation and fission.
    • In order to initiate fission, a high-energy neutron is directed towards a nucleus, such as 235U.
    • While nuclear fission can occur without this neutron bombardment, in what would be termed spontaneous fission, this is a rare occurrence; most fission reactions, especially those utilized for energy and weaponry, occur via neutron bombardment.
  • The Hydrogen Bomb

    • The hydrogen bomb is a nuclear weapon that uses a mixture of fission and fusion to produce a massive explosion.
    • The only two nuclear weapons that have been used were both fission-based.
    • The nuclear fusion releases neutrons much faster than a fission reaction, and these neutrons then bombard the remaining fissile fuel, causing it to undergo fission much more rapidly.
    • Radiation from a primary fission bomb compresses a secondary section containing both fission and fusion fuel.
    • The compressed secondary is heated from within by a second fission explosion.
  • Nuclear Fission in Reactors

    • Nuclear reactors convert the thermal energy released from nuclear fission into electricity.
    • Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller (lighter) nuclei.
    • The kinetic energy of fission products is converted to thermal energy when these nuclei collide with nearby atoms.
    • The power output of the reactor is adjusted by controlling how many neutrons are able to create more fissions.
    • An induced nuclear fission event.
  • Binary Fission

    • Binary fission is the method by which prokaryotes produce new individuals that are genetically identical to the parent organism.
    • Prokaryotes, such as bacteria, propagate by binary fission.
    • Due to the relative simplicity of the prokaryotes, the cell division process, or binary fission, is a less complicated and much more rapid process than cell division in eukaryotes.
  • The Atomic Bomb

    • Atomic bombs are nuclear weapons that use the energetic output of nuclear fission to produce massive explosions.
    • Atomic bombs are nuclear weapons that use the energetic output of nuclear fission to produce massive explosions.
    • These bombs are in contrast to hydrogen bombs, which use both fission and fusion to power their greater explosive potential.
    • On August 6th, 1945, a uranium gun-type fission bomb code-named "Little Boy" was detonated over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
    • Fission can be self-sustaining because it produces more neutrons with the speed required to cause new fissions.
  • Conservation of Nucleon Number and Other Laws

    • Through radioactive decay, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission, the number of nucleons (sum of protons and neutrons) is always held constant.
    • Chain reactions of nuclear fission release a tremendous amount of energy, but follow the Law of Conservation of Nucleon Number.
    • This is the same with all fission reactions.
    • Thus, the number of nucleons before and after fission and fusion is always constant.
    • If U-235 is bombarded with a neutron (light blue small circe), the resulting U-236 produced is unstable and undergoes fission.
  • Nuclear Reactors

    • The energy released from nuclear fission can be harnessed to make electricity with a nuclear reactor.
    • When a large, fissile atomic nucleus such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 absorbs a neutron, it may undergo nuclear fission.
    • This chain reaction can be controlled using neutron poisons and neutron moderators to change the portion of neutrons that can cause more fissions.
    • Nuclear reactors generally have automatic and manual systems to shut the fission reaction down if unsafe conditions are detected.
    • A possible nuclear fission chain reaction.
  • Prokaryotic Reproduction

    • Prokaryotes reproduce asexually by binary fission; they can also exchange genetic material by transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
    • Reproduction in prokaryotes is asexual and usually takes place by binary fission.
    • Binary fission does not provide an opportunity for genetic recombination or genetic diversity, but prokaryotes can share genes by three other mechanisms .
    • Besides binary fission, there are three other mechanisms by which prokaryotes can exchange DNA.
  • Nuclear Weapons

    • A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions—either fission, fusion, or a combination.
    • A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.
    • The first fission (i.e., "atomic") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 20,000 tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT).
    • On August 6, 1945, a uranium gun-type fission bomb code-named "Little Boy" was detonated over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
    • Only three days later a plutonium implosion-type fission bomb code-named "Fat Man" (as illustrated in ) was exploded over Nagasaki, Japan.
  • Types of Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

    • Animals may reproduce asexually through fission, budding, fragmentation, or parthenogenesis.
    • Fission, also called binary fission, occurs in prokaryotic microorganisms and in some invertebrate, multi-celled organisms.
    • Some unicellular eukaryotic organisms undergo binary fission by mitosis.
    • Some sea anemones and some coral polyps also reproduce through fission .
    • Coral polyps reproduce asexually by fission, where an organism splits into two separate organisms.
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