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GCSE Questions: Energy Sources

Q11. (a) Plutonium-239 is used as a fuel in some nuclear reactors.

Name the substance used as a fuel in most nuclear reactors.

Uranium 235

[1 mark]

(b) Energy is released from nuclear fuels by the process of nuclear fission.

(i) Nuclear fission occurs after the nucleus of a plutonium-239 atom has absorbed something. What does it need to absorb to undergo fission?

a neutron

[1 mark]

(ii) Describe what happens when the nucleus of an atom undergoes nuclear fission.

The nucleus splits into two parts and two or three neutrons are released.

If you say 'atom splits' instead of nucleus splits you will not get the mark!

[2 marks]

(Total 4 marks)