Science Common Sense

1494 - How does the nucleus of an atom split.

Imagine the nucleus of an atom as a ball of playdough. Inside this ball, there are smaller parts called protons and neutrons. When some atoms get extra energy, the playdough ball (nucleus) can split into two or more smaller balls.

This is called nuclear fission. It happens when the protons and neutrons don't hold together tightly enough, and the extra energy makes them break apart.

Imagine it like taking a rubber band that's holding the playdough ball together. If you stretch the rubber band too far, it will snap. That's similar to what happens in nuclear fission - the protons and neutrons get too far apart and break away from each other.

This splitting of the nucleus releases a lot of energy, and it's what makes nuclear power plants work. But it can also be very powerful and needs to be handled carefully.