Humans Discover Nuclear Fission

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Humans Discover Nuclear Fission

It seems as though our fellow Earthlings deserve more credit then we

have given them in the past; they have seemingly discovered the so

called, “Nuclear Fission.” The situation on earth has not been

reported on in over a century, yet they have advanced rather rapidly;

in fact more than they can handle.

Nuclear Fission, as discovered here in Trantor, has both benefits and

drawbacks in society. However, earth is an obscure planet with

rather demanding creatures that in the past have used technology and

knowledge negatively. Within the last hundred years, this discovery

had made a rather large impact on the people of earth. Amateurs, as

they are, they have made their lives easier, yet harder with all the

unaccountable damage they have caused. Yet again, humans are

reprimanded as being irresponsible. If only they knew better.

Energy has become a difficult issue on the planet earth. Because

humans do not have magical powers like us, they have to have sources

to generate energy. The most popular sources of energy used on earth

are fossil fuels, including materials such as coal. However these

fossil fuels are said to be running out and so other sources have been

identified including solar power, wind power, and recently, nuclear

fission.

Nuclear Fission, essentially, is the process of splitting atoms with

releases of energy. An example of nuclear fission can be seen in

terms of radioactive material. When radioactive material decays,

protons and neutrons are pulled into arrangements where they are

tightly bound. At this stage, nuclear potential energy is lost, and

heat is released.. Humans have discovered that faster decay can be

produced by bombarding nuclei with other particles. An example of this

is Natural Uranium. When a neutron (The Human symbol N) strikes a

nucleus of isotope Uranium 235, the nucleus splits giving off,

simultaneously, both neutrons and energy. Furthermore, they have

picked up on the ‘Chain Reaction.” If neutrons from the fission of

one nucleus go onto split other nuclei, the number of nuclei

undergoing fission multiplies rapidly. Hence, lots of energy is

released in a sort space of time.

In certain aspects, this is a good thing. Small amounts of fuel can

provide a reasonably large amount of energy. This fuel used is rather

inexpensive and can be found worldwide....

... middle of paper ...

...e diverted human effort to

develop peaceful applications of nuclear energy. As a result, nuclear

power reactors have been supplying energy for humans for several

decades now. Reactor accidents have changed public opinion to an

extent, and the future of nuclear energy is uncertain. Yet the energy

demand is on increase, and the public opinion may just change again.

Whatever the result of this discovery may be, let us hope that humans

will be more responsible and conscious in the future.

Sources Cited:

1.) “Basic Nuclear Fission” Thinkquest Team 98, Team 17940.

February 25, 2005. Online. Available:

http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/fission/fission.html

2.) “Advantages and Disadvantages” Thinkquest Team 98, Team

17940. February 25, 2005. Online. Available:

http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fission/advant.html

3.) “Nuclear Fission; Energy for War and Peace” February 25,

2005. Online. Available:

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:TfmjwdVC-

xEJ:www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/nuctek/ln/chapter8.doc+how+society+

culture+politics+affect+development+of+nuclear+fission+and+applications&hl=

en&start=8

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