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Q: The primary purpose of a moderator used in a nuclear reaction is to?
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What is the purpose of a reaction chamber in a nuclear reactor?

neutron absorber


What is the purpose of a moderator?

The purpose of a moderator in a nuclear reactor is to slow down (moderate) the neutrons produced when uranium (or other nuclear fuel) is fissioned (split). Uranium is naturally radioactive, meaning it spontaneously (without help) breaks apart (decays) into smaller nuclear particles (other elements) and in the process releases radiation (alpha, beta and gamma), heat, and very high speed neutrons. It is these neutrons that are needed to sustain a chain reaction of uranium fissioning, thus producing the heat needed to boil water and produce steam to turn turbines connected to electric generators. Ordinarily the nuclear fuel (e.g. uranium oxide) does not fission often enough to produce a sustained chain reaction, mainly because the two or three neutrons released during fissioning are travelling too fast to split the nuclei of other atoms Therefore, the fuel is suspended in a moderator (Canada uses "heavy water"), which slows down the neutrons enough to make the chain reaction sustainable for enough heat to be generated at a constant rate.


What is a nuclear reactor and what is its purpose?

The nuclear reactor is a device where a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction occurs. Its purpose is for:propulsion (e,g for nuclear submarines and ice breakers)process heat (e,g, for district heating)electricity productionradioisotope productionresearchmaterial testingmedical treatmentsaline water desalination


What is meant by chain reaction in nuclear reactor?

Basically a chain reaction (nuclear or chemical) is a self sustaining auto-catalytic reaction.In a nuclear reactor it is a neutron chain reaction, where each neutron released in every fission event can trigger another fission event. In a nuclear reactor the excess neutrons must be disposed of, which is the purpose of the control rods so that the reaction can be kept at some desired constant rate.


What is the purpose of control rods in a nuclear reactor?

A nuclear reactor requires the neutrons released from one reaction to trigger the fission of other nuclei. Control rods are required to absorb some of these neutrons so as to prevent a runaway chain reaction.


What is the importance of nuclear reaction?

the importance of nuclear reactions are very important.for energy purpose these reactions are very important because many energetic outgoing particles produce fission and fusion.


What is the purpose of nuclear weapons?

nuclear warintimidationpropagandaetc.


What is the primary purpose for construction company?

what is the purpose of the construction industry


What is the cooling water for in a nuclear reactor?

The primary purpose of the cooling water in a reactor is obvious, cool the reactor core by carrying heat away to someplace else. That someplace else is usually a heat exchanger/steam generator, which generates steam to turn the turbine generators that make electricity. In light water moderated reactors, the cooling water also serves a secondary purpose as the moderator. The moderator is a material that slows the fast neutrons from the fission to slow thermal neutrons before too many are absorbed by the plentiful Uranium-238 isotope, which will not fission. These thermal neutrons then fission the rare Uranium-235 isotope to keep the reactor going.


What is the purpose of the cadmium rods in a nuclear fission reactor?

Cadmium is a very strong absorber of neutrons and therefore can be used to control the chain reaction and to shutdown the reactor when required. Boron is also often used for the same purpose.


What describes Esquivels primary purpose in her essay At the Hearth?

Her primary purpose is to entertain the reader.


What is the purpose of a state primary?

The purpose of any primary election is to choose candidates for the main election.