0
One large nucleus, typically uranium, undergoes fission and releases several neutrons along with the major fission products. These neutrons strike more uranium atoms and are absorbed by the nucleus causing it to become unstable. It undergoes fission releasing more neutrons and more fission products. These neutrons strike more uranium atoms etc.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe idea of a chain reaction is that the neutrons released by fission go on to cause fission in other nearby atoms of the same element or others.
For example: An atom of Uranium-235 decays, sending out 2 or 3 neutrons. If one of these neutrons is absorbed by another U-235 atom, that U-235 atom becomes unstable, and quickly splits, again sending out 2 or 3 of its own neutrons (plus a relatively large amount of energy). If there are enough uranium atoms close enough to continue the process (a critical mass), the reaction escalates exponentially and becomes self-sustaining. If the release of neutrons is just enough to maintain fissioning, you have a nuclear reactor. If there are many neutrons released all at once, you have a nuclear bomb.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoWhen a series of events occurs and each event was caused by the previous event, this is called a chain reaction. The domino effect is an example of a chain reaction.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoA nuclear chain reaction happens when a nuclear reaction causes more nuclear reactions. This happens mostly due to the energy released stimulating more reactions, which then release energy.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agooccurs when one nuclear reaction causes on average of one or more nuclear.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoa self sustaining nuclear fission reaction is sustained by the neutron chain reaction patented by Leo Szilard in 1934.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agofission
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is a self sustained nuclear fission chain reaction controlled by?
In most nuclear reactors control rods are used, which contain some material that absorbs neutrons, like boron. These can be finely adjusted to keep the reactor just critical, or dropped in to shutdown quickly if necessary.
How can nuclear fission be slowed?
Yes, by introducing a neutron absorber such as boron. In a nuclear reactor this is done by inserting the control rods
How can nuclear fission can be used to generate electrical power?
Nuclear fission is the power source used by nuclear reactors. Nuclear fuel creates a chain reaction in the fuel after control rods are pulled, and the heat generated is carried off by a coolant, which is usually water. The water carries the heat to a heat exchange device, like a steam generator, and the water boils turning to steam. This steam is used to drive turbines that are linked to generators, and the generators create the electricity that we built the plant to provide.
What does the term nuclear reaction refer to?
The term nuclear reaction is a general one, and it refers to any change in atomic nuclei. There are a lot of different ones (nuclear changes) that qualify, so let's look at some. A nuclear reaction could be a nuclear decay event where a single atomic nucleus undergoes a change. Alpha decay, beta decay, spontaneous fission and even gamma emission are nuclear reactions. Additionally, a nuclear reaction could refer to the interaction of a subatomic particle and an atomic nucleus, like neutron capture in nuclear chain reactions. Further, nuclear fusion, which is constantly going on in our sun, is also considered a nuclear reaction because lighter atomic nuclei are fused together to make heavier ones. As there are a number of "flavors" of nuclear reactions, we leave a reader a variety of options to choose from when we apply this term. It may help to be more specific, depending on the way this term is used.
Do fusion reactions provide nuclear power?
No, a fission reaction is not necessary to trigger a fusion reaction, but for us on earth, it is. In the field of nuclear weapons, a fission bomb is needed to create the heat necessary to set off a fusion weapon. We have to use fission, or, rather, the energy created by that, to initiate the fusion reaction. It might be possible to use a high power source, like a laser, on a small amount of material to get fusion to occur. But we are still experimenting with this in the Tokamak, and it's far from being a done deal. Stars are, in general, massive nuclear fusion reactors. Their constant consumption of fuel powering their high rate of fusion creates a massive amount of energy, and the stars' huge gravity keeps this process from blowing the whole thing apart. No fission is needed to sustain this reaction.
Can fission happen on earth?
Yes, all natural radiation (in the rocks) is a result of fission (but this fission is not part of a chain reaction like in a fission bomb). However, it is theoretically possible for natural processes to concentrate radioactive elements (uranium) to the extent where a natural nuclear fission reactor (a chain reaction like in a nuclear power plant) will form. Oklo in in Gabon is the only known location for this to have happened and consists of 16 sites at which self-sustaining nuclear fission reactions took place approximately 1.7 billion years ago.
How could you increase the rate of fission reactions?
Fission does not respond to changes in temperature and pressure like chemical reactions do. In a nuclear reactor, the fission chain reaction can be sped up by removing rods of cadmium, which absorb neutrons. These are in place to prevent the reaction from occurring too quickly. Remove them, and the chain reaction may proceed out of control.
Can fission take place in the nucleus of hydrogen atom?
No, it cannot. Fission is the "splitting" of an atom, and a hydrogen atom will not fission. Some hydrogen atoms have a neutron stuck to the proton in their nucleus. Some even have two neutrons stuck to that proton. These neutrons can be "knocked loose" in something like a nuclear chair reaction in a weapon. The neutrons then can contribute to the building of the nuclear chain reaction. But fission doesn't happen to hydrogen.
What is the similarities between an atomic bomb and nuclear bomb?
Both have critical mass and both use chain reactions
What is a self sustained nuclear fission chain reaction controlled by?
In most nuclear reactors control rods are used, which contain some material that absorbs neutrons, like boron. These can be finely adjusted to keep the reactor just critical, or dropped in to shutdown quickly if necessary.
Which of the following is the name given to a situation in which one fission reaction innstigates exactly one more fission reaction?
A runaway chain reaction.It is called super criticality, with KEffective > 1.When one fission reaction instigates more than one or more fission reactions it is called a Chain Reaction.KEffective is the neutron multiplication factor which is an indication of whether a reaction is stable (=1), increasing (>1), or decreasing (
How can nuclear fission be slowed?
Yes, by introducing a neutron absorber such as boron. In a nuclear reactor this is done by inserting the control rods
What is needed in a nuclear fission reactor?
A fissionable material that is self-sustainable on a practical level (like U-235), a material to slow down the neutrons caused by the fission (like water), a material to control the chain reaction by absorbing neutrons (like Xe-135), a material to transfer the generated heat to a converter (water again), and something to convert the heat to electricity (like a steam turbine).
How can nuclear fission can be used to generate electrical power?
Nuclear fission is the power source used by nuclear reactors. Nuclear fuel creates a chain reaction in the fuel after control rods are pulled, and the heat generated is carried off by a coolant, which is usually water. The water carries the heat to a heat exchange device, like a steam generator, and the water boils turning to steam. This steam is used to drive turbines that are linked to generators, and the generators create the electricity that we built the plant to provide.
What occurs in nuclear fiusion?
There is no such thing as fiusion. There is fusion and there is fission. fission is when the atoms are spilt apart (like in an atom bomb). fusion is when the atoms are put together (like a hydrogen bomb)
When is nuclear fission used?
In the operation of nuclear power plants like PWR and BWR
What is nuclear fission energy?
Nuclear Fission Energy is energy that is produced using fissionable elements. The most common is Uranium. Fission energy involves the fission heating water and turning a turbine, much like coal.
