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Related Concept Videos

Nuclear Power02:36

Nuclear Power

Controlled nuclear fission reactions are used to generate electricity. Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium or plutonium by bombardment with neutrons has six components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, a neutron source, control rods, reactor coolant, and a shield and containment system.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
Nuclear Fission02:50

Nuclear Fission

Many heavier elements with smaller binding energies per nucleon can decompose into more stable elements that have intermediate mass numbers and larger binding energies per nucleon—that is, mass numbers and binding energies per nucleon that are closer to the “peak” of the binding energy graph near 56. Sometimes neutrons are also produced. This decomposition of a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission. The breaking is rather random with the formation of a large number of different...
Nuclear Transmutation03:20

Nuclear Transmutation

Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed protons being...
Nuclear Fusion02:45

Nuclear Fusion

The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together in the...
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations03:18

Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations

Nuclear chemistry is the study of reactions that involve changes in nuclear structure. The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and, except for hydrogen, neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number (Z) of the element, and the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are isotopes of the same element.
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
09:18

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Published on: December 14, 2017

Underground nuclear explosions: tectonic utility and dangers.

M N Toksöz, H H Kehrer

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |July 16, 1971
    PubMed
    Summary

    Researchers calculated tectonic strain energy from underground nuclear explosions using seismic waves. The high energy release in some tests indicates potential applications and risks associated with underground nuclear testing.

    Area of Science:

    • Geophysics
    • Seismology
    • Nuclear Physics

    Background:

    • Understanding the energy dynamics of underground nuclear explosions is crucial.
    • Seismic wave analysis provides a method to quantify energy release from subterranean events.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To calculate the tectonic strain energy released by underground nuclear explosions.
    • To assess the implications of the observed energy release for underground testing.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of seismic surface waves generated by underground nuclear explosions.
    • Quantitative calculation of released tectonic strain energy.

    Main Results:

    • The study determined the tectonic strain energy released from multiple underground nuclear explosions.

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    Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

    Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
    09:18

    Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident

    Published on: December 14, 2017

    Blast Quantification Using Hopkinson Pressure Bars
    09:41

    Blast Quantification Using Hopkinson Pressure Bars

    Published on: July 5, 2016

    Production of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass
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    Production of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass

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  • A proportionally significant amount of energy was observed in specific events.

    • Conclusions:

    • The substantial energy release from certain underground tests highlights potential beneficial applications.
    • The findings underscore the inherent hazards associated with underground nuclear testing practices.