Q&A for How to Split an Atom

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Can a human be split into particles like an atom?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

If you put a a uranium 235 atom in a copper wire and add current, will the stream of electrons split the uranium atom?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

Can I buy an atom splitting kit at the hobby store?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

How much energy is released when an atom is split?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

Can subatomic particles be damaged?

Community Answer

Subatomic particles can be broken into smaller subatomic particles.

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Question

What was the reasoning for wanting to split an atom?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

What elements can be split to create energy?

Community Answer

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

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Question

Isn't illegal to tell people how to split atoms?

Mr c

Top Answerer

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.

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Question

Will I get my house raided by the CIA if I manage to do this?

Mr c

Top Answerer

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.

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Question

Can I eat the uranium?

Mr c

Top Answerer

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.

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Question

Would splitting an atom cause a nuclear explosion?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

What is the difference between a nuclear and thermonuclear bomb?

Donagan

Top Answerer

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

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Question

What if you use an apple peeler on an apple? Aren't you splitting an atom?

Donagan

Top Answerer

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.

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Question

Why is it illegal to do this in your house?

Donagan

Top Answerer

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

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Question

Why would I need to know how to split an atom, especially if it's illegal, dangerous and most people don't have the equipment?

Donagan

Top Answerer

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.

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Question

Somehow, some way, can an atom split naturally? And I noticed that from the warning that this process could lead to a “massive explosion”, like the size of Hiroshima massive?

Community Answer

(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.

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Question

Is it dangerous to split an atom in my bathroom?

Donagan

Top Answerer

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.)

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Question

Is it legal to split an atom in your backyard?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It is neither legal nor possible in any practical sense.

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Question

Can you split an atom inside a person? (small appendix)

Donagan

Top Answerer

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

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Question

Which method is used to split atoms in nuclear power plants?

Startrekker

Community Answer

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

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Question

Can I do this in my backyard without the government knowing?

Folufela Oyewole

Community Answer

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

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Question

Is nuclear fission a chemical reaction?

Community Answer

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.

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Question

Can a metal blade cut through an atom? How fast would it have to move?

Community Answer

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

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