Name________________________________________ Period: ______

Nuclear Weapons
There are two main types of nuclear weapons: atomic bombs, which are powered by fission reactions similar to
those in nuclear reactors [power plants], and hydrogen bombs, which derive their explosive power from fusion
reactions. An atomic bomb slams together two pieces of fissionable material, usually uranium-235 or
plutonium-239, creating critical mass. This releases its energy instantaneously as atoms inside it split in an
uncontrolled chain reaction. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb called Little Boy was dropped on the
Japanese city of Hiroshima, followed three days later by another, called Fat Man, on Nagasaki.
Hydrogen bombs fuse together hydrogen atoms to form heavier helium atoms, releasing far more energy than a
fission bomb. Two isotopes of hydrogen are used – deuterium (2 neutrons) and tritium (3 neutrons). Hydrogen
bombs have never been used in war and are thousands of times more powerful than atomic bombs.
Directions: Identify each as a fusion or fission
1. Used in nuclear power plants:

2. Occurs on the sun:

3. More powerful of the two reactions: ___________________________

4. A larger nucleus divides to make a smaller nucleus:

5. Two hydrogen atoms come together to make a helium atom: _____________________________

6. The picture above shows:

7. An atomic bomb uses: ____________________________

8. This produces none of the dangerous nuclear waste:

9. This type uses chain reactions from released neutrons to sustain itself:
The Eyes of Nye: Nuclear Energy (25:34)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTHPQqOPg8E
http://www.livestream.com/billnye/video?clipId=pla_747209572572831573
1. What are the three main sections of a nuclear power plant?

2. What starts the nuclear chain reaction?

3. What does fission mean?

4. What two products are formed from the fission of uranium?

5. How much nuclear waste is produced in 60 years of a power plant operating?

6. How much would a coal plant produce?

7. About how thick are the containers that are storing the nuclear waste?

8. An X-Ray gives off about 20 millirems of radiation, how many millirems are emitted through these
canisters?

9. What is the estimate for how long it takes nuclear waste to completely decay?

10. What materials are used to shield or block nuclear radiation?

11. Why is Yucca Mountain such an attractive location for nuclear waste storage?
 a.

b.

c.

12. What is the half-life of Plutonium, part of nuclear waste?

13. Why was the 10,000 year standard ruled invalid?

14. Give two positive and negative arguments involving the usage of nuclear energy.

15. How much total nuclear waste exists worldwide?

16. What are two other ideas for dealing with nuclear waste?

17. Why can’t the nuclear waste be shot into space?

18. Describe transmutation.