Hello and welcome back to Life’s Biggest Questions, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey.
There are certain scientific concepts out that that most people have heard of, but don’t
quite know what it implies.
While you’ve doubtlessly heard mention of splitting an atom in school or films, you
may have missed out on how exactly this can be done.
So let’s explore the wonderful world of nuclear physics.
If you want more Science videos, check out our “Biggest Science Questions” playlist
on the channel.
Now get ready, it’s time to ask the question: How do you split an atom?
Now, you’ve probably heard of splitting the atom countless times before, but what
exactly does it mean?
Well, based on the vision of the atom created by Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford, it was
believed that the atom could be split using a nuclear reaction.
In 1932, this idea became a reality, when Walton and Cockcroft managed to split a nucleus
into two alpha particles by artificially accelerating protons against lithium-7.
This eventually led to modern nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller
parts to release huge amounts of energy.
It should also be noted that atoms are splitting around us all the time, through radioactive
decay.
Unstable atomic nuclei lose energy over time, emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles,
beta particles, and neutrinos.
Even everyday objects like bananas are technically radioactive.
A banana has roughly 450 milligrams of Potassium, and 0.01% of potassium is radioactive.
This means each banana containing roughly 45 micrograms of radioactive potassium, caused
by the splitting of potassium isotopes.
However, let’s keep with the spirit of the question, and explore ways in which we can
intentionally split an atom.
One method you can use is the compression of radioactive materials.
This involves obtaining enough of a fissile radioactive isotope that fission will continue.
If there isn’t enough, you can enrich the isotope, increasing the fissile isotope in
the sample, using gas diffusion or a centrifuge.
Then by compressing the sample, often with explosives, you can cause the atoms to push
closer and closer together, increasing the chance of released subatomic particles striking
and splitting other atoms.
This is the method used to create Plutonium 239-powered Fat Man, the nuclear bomb used
to attack Nagasaki during World War 2.
But that isn’t the only way we can split an atom.
It can also be done by Bombarding Radioactive Isotopes, commonly using Uranium 235.
As with compression, you need to have enough of the isotope to make sure fission will continue
after the first split.
Then, by firing atoms against others of the same isotope, you cause them to split, releasing
neutrons, which in turn collide with other atoms, continuing the reaction.
Alternatively, you can fire subatomic particles like Protons, Neutrons, or Alpha Particles
at the nucleus of the fissile isotope.
But hey, this is 2018, can’t we just do this ourselves?
Well, in a word, yes.
But it can be pretty tricky.
One particularly impressive example of this was made by Dr. Michio Kaku when he was in
high school.
By winding a 22 mile long copper wire around a football field, generating a magnetic field
20,000 times greater than the Earth’s, he created his own version of the Large Hadron
Collider.
If you do this, it would allow you to smash ionized atoms into each other, resulting in
a change to the atoms.
If you want to actually see the particles, you can build a homemade cloud chamber!
A video showing you how to do that is linked down below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xky3f1aSkB8 Bottom line: You CAN try this at home.
But since it can be dangerous, and I don’t want to get sued, I’d advise not trying
this at home.
So now we know the history and mechanisms behind the splitting of the atom.
But what use is this to us?
Well first, as previously stated, nuclear fission is often used to create nuclear weapons.
This was one of the most regretted discoveries of the century, taking millions of lives in
World War 2, but it certainly showed the power one could wield thanks to fission.
Thankfully, this power has since been wielded in more constructive ways, with fission also
being used in nuclear power plants.
These plants use fission reactions to release nuclear energy, which generates heat, which
in turn is used in steam turbines to produce electricity.
As of 2014, nuclear power accounted for almost 20% of electricity in the United States, and
ironically, 27% in Japan.
So not only has nuclear power provided a job for Homer Simpson, it’s provided power for
millions!
Good job, atom splitting!
Thank you for watching Life’s Biggest Questions, I hope this was interesting and informative,
and maybe even inspired you to look into it further on your own.
Just don’t go building a nuke.
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While you’re down there, let me know what other science questions you’d like answered!
Until next time, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey with Life’s Biggest Questions, wishing you
the best of luck, on your quest for answers.