fission
Atom splits apart
Fission is the splitting of something into parts.
In physics, nuclear fission is the splitting of an atomic nucleus, releasing enormous energy—the principle behind nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.
In biology, fission is reproduction by dividing into two or more parts, as when a single-celled organism splits in half.
Figuratively, any group splitting apart might undergo fission: The party's fission into rival factions weakened its influence.
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- splittingDividing into parts
reactor · isotopes · criticality · enrichment · centrifuge · yellowcake · containment · meltdown
First Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- decayGradual organic breakdown
half-life · ionizing · dosimeter · rem · contamination · shielding · exposure · irradiation
Controlled fission apparatus
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
- generatorElectricity-producing machine
megawatts · thermal · grid · reprocessing · baseload · capacity · breeder · thorium
Developing from an outgrowth
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- parthenogenesisDevelopment from unfertilized ova
- cloningMaking identical copies
stolons · rhizomes · binary · asexual · vegetative · propagation · offspring · regeneration
Dividing into parts
- separationState of being apart
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
fragmentation · partitioning · disunion · rupture · severance · divergence · fracture · dissolution
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
amoeba · paramecium · septum · chromosome · DNA · nucleoid · asexual
Uncharged subatomic particles
- criticalityState of utmost importance
- subcriticalBelow critical mass
- supercriticalBeyond a critical threshold
- self-sustainingAble to continue independently
multiplication · moderation · cross-section · reactivity · dampening · runaway · exponential
uranium
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
- nucleusCentral controlling part
splitting · reactor · isotopes · criticality · enrichment · centrifuge · yellowcake · containment · meltdown · Chernobyl
alpha
First Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
decay · half-life · ionizing · dosimeter · rem · contamination · shielding · exposure · irradiation · radionuclide
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
generator · megawatts · thermal · grid · reprocessing · baseload · capacity · breeder · thorium · decommissioning
budding
Developing from an outgrowth
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- parthenogenesisDevelopment from unfertilized ova
cloning · stolons · rhizomes · binary · asexual · vegetative · propagation · offspring · regeneration · hydra
splitting
Dividing into parts
- separationState of being apart
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- schismFormal organizational fracture
breakup · fragmentation · partitioning · disunion · rupture · severance · divergence · fracture · dissolution · secession
mitosis
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
prokaryote · amoeba · paramecium · septum · chromosome · DNA · nucleoid · asexual
neutrons
Uncharged subatomic particles
- criticalityState of utmost importance
- subcriticalBelow critical mass
- supercriticalBeyond a critical threshold
self-sustaining · multiplication · moderation · cross-section · reactivity · dampening · runaway · exponential
- nuclear reactorsreactor core, control rods, fuel rods, reactor cores, nuclear fuel
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- physical phenomenadiffusion, collision, friction, explosion, surface tension
- reproductionreproduction, birth, baby, egg, sperm
- breaking downsplitting, fragmenting, dividing, breaking up, partitioning
fissionfusion
Joining into unity
nuclear fusion · thermonuclear fusion · synthesis · atomic fusion · hydrogen fusion
fissionfusion
Joining into unity
merger · union · combination · unification · coalescence
- nuclear fissionAtomic core division
- atomic fissionSplitting heavy nuclei
- fission bombWeapon splitting heavy atoms
- binary fissionAsexual splitting into two
- fission reactorsMachines harnessing split atoms
- fission reactionNucleus divides into fragments