Nuclear Fission (Also see GCSE Physics 2)

Fission occurs when a nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei

We make fission happen by firing slow moving neutrons at Uranium 235, Plutonium 239 or Thorium 232 nuclei. We call this induced fission. In this processes the nucleus absorbs a neutron then splits to form two lighter nuclei, releases energy and any neutrons left over, usually 2 or 3.

Here is a possible equation for the fission of Uranium 235: