Studying Atoms
Early scientists like Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford explored atoms and radioactivity. Their work showed that atoms are not indivisible and that some of them emit energy.
The Breakthough (1938)
Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann made a key discovery when they found that an atom could be split in two. Lise Meitner helped explain this process, and it became known as nuclear fission.
Diagram of Nuclear Fission
Chain Reaction
When one atom splits, it can trigger other atoms to split, much like a row of falling dominoes. This process explains how a single event can lead to a large release of energy.
Why it Matters
This discovery set the stage for the development of the atomic bomb. Understanding nuclear fission is key to knowing how science changed warfare and energy use.
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