Nuclear fission is defined within nuclear physics as the mechanism by which a heavy atomic nucleus splits into lighter nuclei following neutron capture, accompanied by significant energy release and secondary neutron emission. This process initiates chain reactions when the emitted neutrons sustain further disintegration events without external initiation. The theory fundamentally addresses mass-energy equivalence in unstable isotopes like uranium-235, establishing the theoretical basis for both controlled reaction dynamics and uncontrolled exponential decay sequences.
Nuclear fission is defined within nuclear physics as the mechanism by which a heavy atomic nucleus splits into lighter nuclei following neutron capture, accompanied by significant energy release and …