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Fissionable material that cannot sustain a nuclear reaction on its own is called fissile material. Examples include uranium-238 and thorium-232. These materials can undergo fission when bombarded with neutrons but require additional enrichment or a moderator to sustain a chain reaction.
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What is the minimum amount of material needed to sustain a nuclear reaction?
The minimum amount of material needed to sustain a nuclear reaction depends on the type of reaction. For example, in a nuclear fission reaction, a critical mass of fissile material is needed to sustain a chain reaction. In a fusion reaction, high temperatures and pressures are needed to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.
What element is needed to make a nuclear weapon?
A nuclear weapon requires enriched uranium or plutonium as the fissile material to sustain a chain reaction and create a nuclear explosion. Additionally, a conventional chemical explosive is needed to trigger the nuclear reaction.
What processes is the nuclear material divided?
Nuclear material can be divided through the process of nuclear fission. This involves splitting the atomic nuclei of heavy elements like uranium or plutonium, releasing energy and additional neutrons that can sustain a chain reaction. By controlling this process, power can be harnessed in nuclear reactors or used in nuclear weapons.
Describe a characteristic of a fissionable substance that is essential for a chain reaction to sustain itself?
A characteristic of a fissionable substance essential for a chain reaction to sustain itself is the ability to release additional neutrons upon undergoing fission. These neutrons can then continue to collide with other fissionable nuclei, causing a cascade of fission reactions and sustaining the chain reaction.
What is the science behind the atomic bomb?
Atomic bombs work by initiating a nuclear chain reaction, where the nuclei of atoms split into smaller parts, releasing a huge amount of energy in the process. This process is known as nuclear fission. The bomb uses critical mass of fissile material, like uranium or plutonium, to sustain the chain reaction and release a massive explosion.
What is the quantity of fissionable material called that CANNOT sustain a nuclear reaction?
Subcritical mass is the quantity of fissionable material that cannot sustain a nuclear reaction. When the amount of fissionable material is below the critical mass required to sustain a chain reaction, it is considered subcritical.
What is the minimum amount of material needed to sustain a nuclear reaction?
The minimum amount of material needed to sustain a nuclear reaction depends on the type of reaction. For example, in a nuclear fission reaction, a critical mass of fissile material is needed to sustain a chain reaction. In a fusion reaction, high temperatures and pressures are needed to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.
What is the amount of fissionable material required to continue a reaction at a constant rate?
The amount of fissionable material required to sustain a nuclear reaction at a constant rate is determined by the material's critical mass. The critical mass is the minimum amount of fissionable material needed to sustain a chain reaction, and it varies depending on the material and the reactor design. By controlling factors such as neutron moderation and absorption, reactor operators can adjust the critical mass to maintain a steady reaction rate.
What is the term that is used to describe a key factor required to start a fission reaction?
The term is "critical mass." It refers to the minimum amount of fissionable material, such as uranium or plutonium, required to sustain a chain reaction in a nuclear reactor or bomb.
What is meant by supercritical and how does it relate to making a nuclear bomb?
Supercritical means having more than the critical mass of a fissionable material gathered together to sustain a chain reaction. In the context of making a nuclear bomb, achieving a supercritical mass of fissile material through implosion or gun-type assembly is necessary to initiate a nuclear explosion.
Critical mass is the of material required to produce a chain reaction?
minimum amount
Is it true or false that the only isotopes that can be used as fuel in a nuclear power plant are those in which a chain reaction can occur?
True, only fissionable isotopes that produce enough excess neutrons to sustain a chain reaction can be used directly as fuel.However fertile isotopes that capture neutrons and then transmute to fissionable isotopes can be used indirectly as fuel through a process called breeding.
What is meant by supercritical andhow dose it relate to making a nuclear bomb?
Supercritical refers to a nuclear chain reaction that is accelerating. For a nuclear bomb, achieving a supercritical state is necessary to rapidly release a massive amount of energy through an uncontrolled chain reaction, resulting in an explosion. Specialized techniques and precision are used to control the timing and conditions to trigger the supercritical state in a nuclear bomb.
Critical mass depends on what?
The Purity && The Shape AND size density
Atoms that naturally undergo nuclear fissions are called?
These are called fissile or fissionable. Fissile isotopes undergo fission, producing sufficient neutrons of sufficient power that a chain reaction can happen, if there is enough of the isotope to support it. The mass sufficient to support a chain reaction is called critical. Atoms of fissionable isotopes will undergo fission when a sufficiently energetic neutron collides with them, but the neutrons they emit when they divide are either insufficient in number or insufficient in energy to sustain an chain reaction. There is a third type of material that can undergo fission, called fertile, which is isotopes that can be caused to capture neutrons, changing into fissile or fissionable isotopes, so the fission does not happen to atoms of the fertile material directly, but to the atoms of the isotopes they become.
Who was the first person to sustain a fissionable chain reaction?
This was first achieved in the Chicago pile, 1942. Enrico Fermi was the team leader.
What is necessary sustain a nuclear chain reaction?
In a chain reaction, neutrons released during the splitting of an initial nucleus trigger a series of nuclear fissions.
