Which describes nuclear fission? (1 point)
• starts when two atoms slam together, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms
• starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms
O starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing two atoms to form one, heavier atom
• starts when two atoms slam together to form one, heavier atom
• starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms
The correct description of nuclear fission is: starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms.
The correct answer is: starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms.
To arrive at the answer, you can consider the process of nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of a significant amount of energy.
In nuclear fission, a neutron is required to initiate the reaction. When a neutron collides with the nucleus of an atom, it becomes unstable and splits into two smaller atoms, releasing additional neutrons and a vast amount of energy. These released neutrons can then go on to collide and split other atoms, leading to a chain reaction.
Option 1, which suggests that two atoms slam together causing one larger atom to form, describes nuclear fusion rather than fission. Nuclear fusion occurs when two atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus. This process is different from nuclear fission.
Option 3, stating that a neutron slamming into an atom causes two atoms to form one heavier atom, does not align with the process of nuclear fission. In fission, one larger atom typically splits into two smaller atoms, rather than two smaller atoms combining to form a larger one.
Option 4 also does not describe nuclear fission accurately. It suggests that two atoms slam together to form one heavier atom, which is not consistent with the concept of nuclear fission.
Therefore, the correct answer is that nuclear fission starts when a neutron slams into an atom, causing the larger atom to split into two smaller atoms.