Nuclear Fission 7.0

Nuclear Fission is a graphic simulation and reference tool. It is a computer model that shows how nuclear fission works. The application presents three tabs, each of which shows a particular simulation. The first one shows how the fission of a single uranium-235 nucleus can be triggered by the addition of a neutron. In this particular case, you get a group of neutrons and protons with a label U235. There is a sort of ray gun that shoots neutrons. If you click on the gun, a neutron will be shot against the U235 nucleus and trigger the fission of the nucleus. Below the nucleus there is a chart which graphically shows the energy output of the fission process. The second tab illustrates a chain reaction. There, you can add a containment vessel and U235 and U238 nuclei. U238 nuclei seem not to result in a chain reaction, and they are added so that you can figure that out. By adding several U235 nuclei and shooting a neutron to one of them, you will see how each of the fissions will release rogue neutrons which will start fission processes in neighboring nuclei. It is very illustrative. The third tab has a representation of the core of a nuclear reactor, which creates a chain reaction for the production of energy.

In all the simulation models, you can see the key information about the processes involved and there are legends that show what is on the screen. The third model, the nuclear reactor, even shows a level with the energy released by the fission of the nuclei.

The application was built using Java, so it can be run from any Java-enabled operating system, and it can also be run from a web browser.