Q&A for How to Split an Atom

I suppose being hit directly by something like a nuclear bomb could take a person apart on a sub-atomic level. So, yes, but it would take immense power.

It is most likely that the electrons will just be stripped of the uranium 235 atoms and it will conduct the electricity, as it is a conductor.

Unfortunately, you can't. Even if you could, it would be very expensive. Also, splitting an atom is very dangerous, and not recommended to do at home.

When atoms are split, mass is lost (or converted to energy). The amount of energy released is equal to the amount of mass converted times the speed of light squared. This is summed up in Einstein's E=mc2.

Subatomic particles can be broken into smaller subatomic particles.

E = mc^2 means that a lot of energy can be condensed into matter. It is also possible to reverse this and get a lot of energy. By splitting an atom, some of the energy is released in the form of heat, which can then be harnessed and used.

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. There are no elements that can be split to create energy.

No. It's not about legality, it's about safety. Splitting atoms, especially with radioactive materials like uranium, can be extremely hazardous if not done properly. Leave that stuff to trained experts who know how to handle it safely.

It's highly unlikely, but messing with radioactive materials without proper authorization or expertise could attract some serious attention from authorities. The CIA might not be the ones knocking on your door, but you could definitely get in trouble with the law. It's just not worth the risk.

Eating uranium is super dangerous. It's radioactive and can seriously harm your body. Plus, it's not food, so definitely not something to snack on.

No. If you are splitting only 1 atom, it's actually pretty safe to do TBH, just make sure to wear googles and it'll be OK. It is dependent on the critical mass. Anything less than the critical mass will not achieve an explosion.

A thermonuclear bomb operates at a higher temperature than does an older-generation nuclear device. The result is greater "efficiency" and destructive power.

No, because a peeler is much, much wider than the space between subatomic particles. In using a peeler, you are merely separating atoms, not splitting them into two pieces.

Because theoretically it could result in an explosion that would endanger anyone nearby.

As is the case with many wikiHow articles, this one is presented merely as interesting information. For the reasons you suggest, it is not intended as a practical guide for actual implementation.

(1) Normally no. What's termed "the nuclear force" binds subatomic particles together so tightly that they would never "split" naturally. However, every day we are bombarded with cosmic rays with tremendous energy, they can split atoms if they happen to hit a nucleus. (1.1) Naturally radioactive substances split by themselves after a while, releasing energy and 2 or more fragments of the nucleus. (2) It depends on the critical mass. If it is slightly less than critical mass, it will release a burst of radiation that is enough to be fatal, and lots of heat, that the mass will get very hot. If greater than critical mass, then yes. If it is much, much, smaller than critical mass, say the size of a pin head, there is not much to worry about, but it is still good to have it in a lead box.

Yes, in theory it would be dangerous anywhere. (As a practical matter, it would not be dangerous, because it is not actually possible to split an atom outside of a nuclear laboratory or a nuclear reactor.)

It is neither legal nor possible in any practical sense.

No. A targeted atom would have to be held in a very specific and carefully controlled environment, not (for instance) inside a human body.

As of now, nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants. But scientists and engineers are trying to make nuclear fusion viable too.

No. Check out the story of The Radioactive Boy Scout, about how someone tried to do something similar to this.

No. It is a nuclear reaction, meaning it involves the nucleus. Chemical reaction involve only the electrons around the nucleus of an atom with other electrons of other atoms. The primary difference are the elements used. the second part is the energy released. A chemical reaction releases small amounts of energy, while in Chernobyl, around 1 billion curies were released. For reference, one curie can fry a human.

Since a metal blade is made out of atoms too, there's no way to make it sharp enough to slice atoms.