Physics 2006 JAMB Past Questions - Question 7: I. The number of neutrons released exceeds the number that caused the fission. II. There is loss of mass. Ill Energy is produced. IV)smaller nuclei merge to form larger nuclei.which of the statements above is correct about nuclear fission

Correct Answer

B

Explanation

In the context of nuclear fission, let's evaluate each statement:

I. "The number of neutrons released exceeds the number that caused the fission." - This statement is generally true. In a nuclear fission reaction, a neutron causes the nucleus of a heavy atom (such as uranium-235) to split into two smaller nuclei, releasing several neutrons in the process. These released neutrons can then go on to cause fission in other nearby nuclei, leading to a chain reaction. So, the number of neutrons released can indeed exceed the number that initiated the fission.

II. "There is a loss of mass." - This statement is also true. According to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc^2), a small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy during nuclear reactions, including fission. As a result, there is a loss of mass, and this mass is converted into energy.

III. "Energy is produced." - This statement is correct. Nuclear fission reactions release a significant amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. This energy is the primary reason for using nuclear fission in power plants and atomic weapons.

IV. "Smaller nuclei merge to form larger nuclei." - This statement is incorrect. Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei, not the merging of smaller nuclei into larger ones. This is the opposite process of nuclear fusion, where smaller nuclei combine to form larger ones, releasing even more energy.

So, statements I, II, and III are correct, while statement IV is not applicable to nuclear fission.