how do you split an atom?

Answer 1

By striking it with some atomic particle. The term "split" properly refers to fissioning uranium, by striking it with neutrons. A uranium nucleus will split into two (typically unequal) parts when struck by a neutron traveling at an appropriate speed, and typically throw two or three additional neutrons in the process. The new neutrons can themselves cause fission of additional uranium nuclei; this is called a chain reaction. The process is particularly easy to instigate in a particular form of uranium called U-235. This form (or isotope) constitutes less than one percent of natural uranium, so "enrichment" processes are used to increase the concentration so that it can be used in power reactors (requires 2-3%) or in atomic bombs (> 90%).

Answer 2

One way is to strip off a bunch of its electrons with
light pulses or with charged plates...and then send
it to circulate through a curved magnetic field
(since the atom has lost some electrons, it is now
charged, and charged particles speed up when you
put them into a curved magnetic field). When you get
the atom going really really fast, change the field
and let the particle slam into a target. Sort of
like throwing an alarm clock against a wall really hard....
the atom smashes open and we see its "insides"
come screaming out (using a special detector).

This is called a "particle accelerator," by the way.

Answer 3

Smash a very high-energy particle into it. Or, if the nucleus is big enough (like Uranium-238) you can just add a neutron and it will spontaneously decay into two smaller atoms.

Answer 4

In a nuclear reactor or nuclear weapon, you create fission (that is, split an atom) by bombarding a radioactive isotope--uranium or plutonium--with another particle, such as a neutron.

Answer 5

Nuclear Fission

Answer 6

particle accelerator.

Answer 7

knife and fork