how can splitting a tiny piece of an even tinier atom create such a vast explosion?
In: Physics
Eli5:. Think of an atom like a classic mousetrap.
The arm that you press down and latch is analogous to creating the atom in the first place.
The “arm” is stiff and resists you pressing it to the base. You have to apply a large, constant force to press it into place.
This happens in atoms because protons really push hard away from other protons (like electrical charges repel). But with enough force from outside, you can squeeze then together. This force for atoms comes from the intense heat and pressure found in the coe of stars, or during supernovas.
Once the arm is down, there is a latch that holds it in place. This latch is very short range, it only works once you get the arm very close to the base. This latch is also much stronger than the arm, since it holds it in place.
In an atom, this is the role of the strong nuclear force. It is an incredibly strong, but very short range force. If the protons are pushed into the region where it is stronger than the electric force, they will snap together, despite the protons pushing apart.
For fusion energy, stars push together small atoms, like hydrogen and helium. When the string force takes over, there is plenty of room left for them to move when they snap together. This means the atom sorta “jumps” when they collide. This can bump nearby atoms and transfer the energy away as heat.
For atoms larger than iron, there really isn’t enough space for then to snap together. It’s more like you’re trying to cram more and more stuff under the latch that is the strong force.
If you smack the latch of a mouse trap, then the spring arm flies free. Same with an atom that experiences fission. If you smack a large atom a part might fly free, propelled by the protons hating other protons, and the rest of the atom crunching closer under the strength of the strong force.
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