Nuclear Fission Simulation

This month's Engineering Pathway activity is an online simulation for nuclear fission reactions and a nuclear reactor. Start a chain reaction, or introduce non-radioactive isotopes to prevent one. Watch alpha particles escape from a Polonium nucleus, causing radioactive alpha decay. Control energy production in a nuclear reactor! Fun, interactive simulations of physical phenomena from the Physics Education Technology project at the University of Colorado. Simulations are available in both English and Spanish.

The Engineering Pathway Portal to the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) brings together quality engineering education materials for from all over the internet allowing teachers to search all of these documents in a single location. Each month during the year in the Pre-Engineering Times, the Engineering Pathway will highlight one or more engineering activities available on the collection related to the months theme.

For more information on what nuclear engineers do, visit the Nuclear Engineering Education Community Page on the Engineering Pathway.