• Question: What happens when a sceintist splits the atom?

    Asked by to Louise, Michaela, Sian, Steve, Yvette on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Michaela Livingstone

      Michaela Livingstone answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Ha, this is physics! Physicists have split the atom in the past – I believe you can get a lot energy out of doing that, so you can either have a massive explosion (a nuclear bomb), or if you can do it in a controlled way you can make electricity out of it – that’s how nuclear power works! The heat that’s produced by the process of splitting atoms heats up water which turns turbines that create electricity.

    • Photo: Louise Johnson

      Louise Johnson answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Hold on, I’ve got a pair of scissors right here. *stabs* Missed it. Can’t tell you.

    • Photo: Steven Kiddle

      Steven Kiddle answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      In the centre of an atom are protons and neutrons, when scientists split the atom they are hitting the centre with another particle. This breaks some of the protons and neutrons apart, releasing them from the nucleus. A lot of energy is released when this happens which is why it is used in nucleur power plants.

    • Photo: Yvette Wilson

      Yvette Wilson answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      errr, not sure

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