0
There is no single quantity, it depends on many factors some are:
- enrichment level
- presence/absence of moderator
- type of moderator
- presence/absence of reflector
- thickness of reflector
- type of reflector
- presence/absence of absorber
- type of absorber
- has the uranium been compressed beyond standard density
- etc.
For some general order of magnitude values:
- in a typical water moderated reactor, the critical mass of the 3% enriched uranium is usually several tons
- in a typical atomic bomb with a depleted uranium tamper/reflector, the critical mass of the 93.5% enriched uranium is 15 to 20 kg depending mostly on the thickness of the tamper/reflector
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
When uranium will blast?
Uranium will blast only when a mass of enriched uranium attain the critical mass.
Does a critical mass of uranium require enriched uranium?
No. Heavy Water moderated reactors like the CANDU type can go critical and run on natural (0.72%) Uranium just fine.
What does uranium and plutonium do inside a bomb?
The critical mass of plutonium is lower, plutonium is not so expensive as highly enriched uranium, the technology to obtain plutonium is more simple than the isotopic separa-tion of uranium, etc.
How can uranium kill you?
- after a severe intoxication (ingestion of an important mass of soluble uranium compounds); uranium is toxic and radioactive. - after inhalation of uranium dust on long periods; uranium and the released radon are the cause of lung cancers in this case. - after the explosion of a critical mass of enriched uranium - if you are between the victims of a nuclear weapons bombarment, using uranium in the bombs
What is the amount of fissionable material required to continue a reaction at a constant rate?
At less than critical mass, there are fewer "targets" for neutrons to strike, fission, and release more neutrons. As a result, the reaction dies out.
When uranium will blast?
Uranium will blast only when a mass of enriched uranium attain the critical mass.
Does a critical mass of uranium require enriched uranium?
No. Heavy Water moderated reactors like the CANDU type can go critical and run on natural (0.72%) Uranium just fine.
What does uranium and plutonium do inside a bomb?
The critical mass of plutonium is lower, plutonium is not so expensive as highly enriched uranium, the technology to obtain plutonium is more simple than the isotopic separa-tion of uranium, etc.
How can uranium kill you?
- after a severe intoxication (ingestion of an important mass of soluble uranium compounds); uranium is toxic and radioactive. - after inhalation of uranium dust on long periods; uranium and the released radon are the cause of lung cancers in this case. - after the explosion of a critical mass of enriched uranium - if you are between the victims of a nuclear weapons bombarment, using uranium in the bombs
Why does uranium metal not explode in a nuclear reaction?
Uranium metal (enriched in uranium-235 up to 99 %) is a nuclear explosive, if the critical mass is reached. Also criticality accidents are possible in uranium plants or uranium storage areas.
What is the amount of fissionable material required to continue a reaction at a constant rate?
At less than critical mass, there are fewer "targets" for neutrons to strike, fission, and release more neutrons. As a result, the reaction dies out.
Why can't uranium ore explode in the ground?
No critical mass underground; but as a curiosity read about the Oklo phenomenon.
What is the critical mass of uranium-238?
Each isotope has a different critical mass. U235 is used because the mass needed to cause a reaction is smaller than almost all other isotopes. This critical mass is calculated as( 3.001 x 9.987 to the 11th power) Divided by the weight of one nuclei X 2.5675 (x 10 to the 24th power) divided by mass. This equals 7.702 X 10 to the 13th power divided by mass. You can tell by this calculation that critical mass for u235 is very low at about 1.3 kg. Best regards, Bruce
What is the differences of plutonium and uranium?
Uranium is a natural chemical element, plutonium is an artificial element (but note that plutonium exist also naturally in the earth crust in extremely low concentrations). Uranium has the atomic number 92 and plutonium 94. The critical mass of uranium is greater than the critical mass of plutonium. The melting and boiling points of U and Pu are different. Uranium has an orthorombic crystalline structure; the structure of plutonium is monoclinic. And many other physical and chemical properties are different.
Critical mass is the of material required to produce a chain reaction?
minimum amount
You cannot make a bomb from uranium ore as it occurs in nature because it it?
We need the isotope uranium-235 in a concentration near to 99 % ! Only this isotope is fissile. Also the uranium will be very pure and in a sufficient quantity to form the critical mass, etc.
Is plutonium more powerful then uranium?
Plutonium is more dangerous: the specific activity is greater, the critical mass is smaller, the chemical toxicity is greater.
