The Double Miracle of a Nuclear Reaction

In the previous post, we discussed on how nuclear fission can be controlled, and thereby, avoiding cathostrophe. But the question asked is, how can nuclear fission cause such devastation? When we talk about devastation, we are reminded of the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombings of 1945 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

We first answer that question with another question, "How does a nuclear reaction work?"

There are two types of nuclear reactions, a Fusion reaction and a Fission reaction. Fusion reaction is the act of fusing two atoms to create energy where as fission is the act of splitting one atom to create energy. In nuclear power plants, the type of reaction that is used is a fission reaction.

Nuclear reaction is in itself, a double miracle. If not for this double miracle, nuclear reactions could not bring so much devastation as mentioned earlier.

The first miracle is that in fusing or splitting an atomic nuclei, energy is released equivalent to the "missing mass" which results from this reaction. What this means is that, in a time when nuclear reaction was first discovered, scientists were puzzled as to why the total mass of the atoms before and after a nuclear reaction are never equivalent.

What they found is that the total mass of atoms after the reaction are always lesser than the total mass of atoms before the reaction, and hence the term "missing mass" or "mass defect".

It was only later when Einstein came up with his famous equation of E=MC^2 to explain this phenomenon. He theorized that the missing mass was directly transformed into pure energy as a result of the reaction, an energy equivalent to the missing mass times a certain constant value, the speed of light squared. Further experiments done later proved the validity of his equation.

In short, the first miracle is the release of raw energy (a direct conversion from mass to energy) as a result of a nuclear reaction. Further expanding this idea implies that a small amount of nuclear fuel can be converted to extensive amounts of pure power, which sounds as fascinating as it is terrifying.

The second miracle is the chain reaction tendency of a nuclear reaction. For example, in a nuclear fission reaction, all that is needed to split one atom is one single neutron. However, such a reaction would create not only one, but two and sometimes three neutrons. These high energy neutrons released will then split other neighbouring atoms which will in turn create even more neutrons. This is the chain reaction as mentioned earlier and it will continue to happen until either all atoms are split or when there isn't any high energy neutrons left. This means that once when a nuclear reaction is initiated, the reaction rate will continue to increase at a ridiculously tremendous rate.

Combining both these miracles, you will get a reaction that not only releases huge amounts of raw energy, but at a release rate so fast that it is just.. MINDBLOWING!!! *ba dum tsss*

Back to a serious note, the blast from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on that day was so powerful, that it imprinted the shadows of its victim on the floors and walls everywhere in that place, and these shadows are called atomic shadows. True story my fellow readers.

For pictures of these atomic shadows, click here:
http://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/atomic-shadows/

After witnessing the use of nuclear weapons in World War 2, Einstein was quoted to have said "The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker." (If Einstein didnt pursue his career in physics, he would have followed his fathers footsteps in being a watchmaker)

We are all too familiar with the famous phrase "With great power comes great responsibility" and clearly, nuclear energy brings so much potential in power generation. As discussed in the previous post, with the advancements of technology in the present age, a safe control of nuclear power generation is more than possible. Therefore, it is very true that the future is nuclear power.