Nuclear Energy.

* In the 1930's nuclear energy became a serious possibility. * 1932 - Discovery of the neutron. * No change, ergo, can probe nucleus. * Hahn and Strassmann fired neutrons at U nucleus. * Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch interpreted this: Neutrons caused splitting of U into smaller nuclei * Fission had occurred. * Potent source of energy! * Energy from E=mc2 * In more complete form, Einstein showed that at relativistic speeds we cannot use k=(0.5)mv2 . * Remember from special relativity, that as …

…of protons). (iii) When they are close enough, the nuclear strong force pulls the protons together. Neutrons assist in binding. (iv) Potential energy decreases. Amount = binding energy. (v) This means mass decreases. * Peak binding energy about mass number = 60. (Fe to Cu). Most stable. * Energy released by fusion up to about A=60. Energy input above that. * Energy released by fission from top end down to 60. Canadian Reactor Technology AECL designed the CANDU reactor (Canada Deuterium Uranium)