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Fission: Discover a powerful energy source Virtual Lab

You're on a mission to learn about fission and how we harness it as a sustainable energy source. Journey into the heart of a reactor and answer the lab's security questions to activate it.

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Fission: Discover a powerful energy source

About this Simulation

Discover our most powerful energy source! In this simulation, you will learn about the science of nuclear fission and nuclear power. What does it look like when we split the atom? What reactions are possible with fission? Why does it make radioactive waste? With your team's nuclear scientist missing, it's up to you to figure out all of these questions. 

Activate the reactor!

On a mission to find the secrets of sustainable energy sources, your team needs you to activate an abandoned fission reactor to generate power. However, your nuclear expert has gone missing so you will have to learn the science of nuclear fission! To understand fission you will be working through interactive learning activities, making hypotheses, and exploring insightful animations. Applying this knowledge will turn on the reactor and help your team on their adventure!

Hold atoms in your hands!

Fission happens on an atomic scale and can be tricky to visualize and therefore can be difficult to learn. With this simulation, you will see memorable animations to make the science feel real! Want to experience the hazardous decay of uranium but don't have millions of years to wait around? We can simulate the fission and decay of atoms in a more reasonable amount of time!

Restart the reactor.

Ahead of you is the reactor, locked behind three security questions. As this is a fission reactor, the questions are all on the topic of nuclear science and fission. These questions make sure if you're going to harness the secrets of renewable energy, you have got to understand it! Think you're up for the challenge?

Learning Objectives

At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate that neutrons being added to large nuclei creates instability, inducing fission and the subsequent nuclear chain reaction.

  • Demonstrate that the total number of neutrons plus protons is the same before and after the nuclear process (fission).

  • Demonstrate that the products of fission are unstable and they undergo radioactive decay.

Techniques in Lab

At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:

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