Water drop model |
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In some respects a heavy nucleus that fissions has properties that are similar to a highly excited water drop that surface tension splits into two main components with several small drops. The small drops correspond to the neutrons that are 'left over' after a heavy nucleus fissions. The water drop model |
| Note: in other respects the nucleus behaves like the atom, with shells and transitions between energy levels, associated with the absorption and emission of gamma rays. |