Power from the nucleus

On page 34 you saw that a radioactive atom decays to form another atom, by giving out radiation. 

Some large radioactive atoms can be made to behave in a different way. For example, an atom of uranium-235 splits into Uvo separate atoms when it is struck by a neutron. 

Fission of a uranium-235 atom produces a krypton atom, a barium atom and 3 neutrons, as well as gamma rays. 

It also gives out a huge amount of heat energy. 

The krypton and barium atoms are both radioactive, and in time decay. 

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