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If you have a critical mass of a radioactive material what can occur?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
In a critical mass, the material involved starts to undergo fission because of the presence of a dense neutron flux. The fission produces neutrons, which add to the neutron flux. This causes a great release of heat.
Reaching critical mass does not imply a powerful nuclear explosion. A powerful nuclear explosion develops when critical mass is attained for a long enough time for the majority of the nuclear material to get involved. This is a very tricky thing to do and does not happen accidentally. What can happen accidentally is a nuclear "pop," a sort of small explosion which throws the material apart, destroying the critical mass, and possibly producing a lot of pollution. (This was not what happened at Chernobyl, which was steam and chemical.)
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoA nuclear explosion.
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What is not a factor in determining critical mass is?
The age of the material.
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.
How does nuclear fission end?
It ends by losing the critical mass or by introducing high neutron capturing material.
What do you use to build an atomic bomb?
Materials NeededMaterials needed to make an atomic bomb are:fissionable material (Plutonium239 isotope)explosive to start the nuclear chain reaction (TNT, Gelignite or semtex)detonatorpusher (made from aluminium, beryllium)
A radioactive element has a half-life of 3000 years. If a sample of this element begins with a mass of 60 grams how long would you have to wait for the mass to decrease to 15 grams?
You would have to wait 6,000 years for this to occur, because it requires twice the half-life to reduce the radioactive isotope to 1/4 of its original mass.
What is the amount of radioactive material needed to sustain a chain reaction in order to provide useful energy?
The critical mass.
Minimum mass of material requied for the nuclear chain reaction to occur in a nuclear bomb is called?
The critical mass
What is the amount of radioactive material needed to sustain a chain reaction in order to provide useful energy called?
The critical mass.
What is not a factor in determining critical mass is?
The age of the material.
How is the atom bomb constructed to ensure that it does not go off immediately?
The radioactive material in the bomb is kept apart and are less than the critical mass until they collide into each other. EGHS Ftl
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.
Critical mass is the of material required to produce a chain reaction?
minimum amount
One thing that is not a factor in determining critical mass is?
the age of the material
Is einsteinium explosive?
Theoretically einsteinium could form a critical mass but we haven't so much material.
How does nuclear fission end?
It ends by losing the critical mass or by introducing high neutron capturing material.
Do nuclear reactors have critical mass?
We know that critical mass can be achieved in a nuclear reactor. If it could not, we'd not be able to get a chain reaction and generate heat to generate power. Reactors don't have critical mass when the control rods are in, but pull the rods, start the reactor up and away you go!
When radioactive decays stop?
It will stop when there is nothing left to decay. There is basically no way to stop certain nuclides (isotopes) from decaying.
