Final answer:
In nuclear fission, an atomic nucleus splits into two smaller 'daughter' nuclei with random masses and velocities, satisfying conservation laws, as depicted in provided diagrams.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nuclear Fission Example
When an atomic nucleus undergoes fission, it splits into two smaller nucleic fragments, often referred to as 'daughter' nuclei. In this scenario, the original nucleus splits into two pieces with masses ma and mb, which then travel in opposite directions with speeds va and vb. Since this process is probabilistic, the exact masses and velocities of these fragments are random but are constrained by the conservation laws, such as the conservation of mass where the sum of the masses of the fragments equals the original mass before fission.
The breakup is illustrated in diagrams where the daughter nuclei are positioned diametrically opposite from the midpoint of the parent nucleus, respecting the count and probability distribution as specified in the reference material. For example, if we start with a nucleus whose mass is 200.000 atomic mass units (a.m.u.) and completely dismantle it into its constituent parts using 1,600 MeV of energy, the total mass of the resulting collection of parts would be slightly less due to the mass-energy equivalence described by E = mc².