how the nucleus of an atom is actually split to create an atomic bomb?
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How is the nucleus split? Small atoms like hydrogen or helium are bound very tightly. A few protons, neutrons and the strong nuclear force holds them together. In the nucleus of each atom of uranium-235 (U-235) are 92 protons and 143 neutrons, for a total of 235. This is unstable, there’s too much stuff. They even break by themselves, we call that radioactivity. When you throw a free neutron in that big unstable nucleus, it shakes for a bit, then breaks apart and sends other free neutrons. That how the nucleus splits.
We don’t split atoms by sending neutrons at the nucleus like in pool. The neutron has to be going at a low speed in order to join the nucleus. The latter becomes unstable and breaks apart. If the neutron is going to fast, you cannot split other atoms with it because it won’t stick on the nucleus
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