Question detail
In induced nuclear fission, what must happen to the large nucleus before it splits?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Nuclear fission and fusion
Question
- A. It absorbs a neutron
- B. It absorbs an electron
- C. It emits visible light first
- D. It joins with another small nucleus
Answer
It absorbs a neutron. This is correct because induced fission begins when a large nucleus such as uranium-235 absorbs a neutron, making it unstable enough to split.
Explanation
It absorbs a neutron is correct. In induced nuclear fission, a large nucleus such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239 first absorbs a neutron. That absorption makes the nucleus unstable, so it splits into smaller nuclei, releases energy, and may release more neutrons. Absorbing an electron is not the trigger for fission, visible light emission is not the required step, and joining with another small nucleus describes fusion rather than fission. This keeps neutron absorption, fission, and fusion distinct.
Common mistake
Neutron Absorption Misunderstanding
Students often confuse the process of a neutron being absorbed by a nucleus with the actual fission event, thinking that absorption alone causes fission.
Emphasize that the absorption of a neutron is a necessary step that precedes fission, but it is the subsequent splitting of the nucleus that actually releases energy.
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