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What is the quantity of fissionable material called that CANNOT sustain a nuclear reaction?
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∙ 13y ago
Sub Critical
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∙ 13y ago
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How to make nuclear bomb-?
To make a nuclear bomb, you need the fissionable material such as a Plutonium239 isotope, an explosive to start the nuclear chain reaction, a detonator, and a pusher.
What are the similarities between nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs?
Both have critical mass, and create energy from a fission chain reaction. In nuclear bombs, the chain reaction is uncontained and spreads to all the fissionable material nearly instantaneously.
What is meant by supercritical andhow dose it relate to making a nuclear bomb?
subcritical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material unable to sustain a neutron chain reaction. It can provide a fixed amount of neutron multiplication from a neutron source, but after removal of the neutron source the chain reaction rate drops exponentially.critical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material capable of sustaining a constant neutron chain reaction. No increase or decrease. (Nuclear reactors operate at critical)supercritical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material capable of not only sustaining a neutron chain reaction, but once initiated the chain reaction rate rises exponentially. (Nuclear fission bombs explode when made supercritical)A nuclear fission bomb must have 2 of these states: subcritical (so that it can't explode until desired) and supercritical (so that it explodes with an effective yield). This requires a rapid "assembly" system using conventional explosives to rearrange the fissile material from subcritical to supercritical in about 1ms. A neutron source starts the chain reaction and the explosion completes in about 1 microsecond.
Critical mass is the of material required to produce a chain reaction?
minimum amount
What is the amount of fissionable material that must be present in order for a nuclear reaction to take place called?
The critical mass. With an amount of U-235 or Pu-239, the smallest critical mass will be a sphere. For a nuclear reactor, it will be the minimum number of fuel assemblies loaded to produce a chain reaction.
Fissionable material that cannot sustain nuclear reaction?
Sub Critical
How to make nuclear bomb-?
To make a nuclear bomb, you need the fissionable material such as a Plutonium239 isotope, an explosive to start the nuclear chain reaction, a detonator, and a pusher.
What are the similarities between nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs?
Both have critical mass, and create energy from a fission chain reaction. In nuclear bombs, the chain reaction is uncontained and spreads to all the fissionable material nearly instantaneously.
Why use plutonium in nuclear reactors?
Plutonium is used as nuclear fuel for nuclear reactors. Plutonium isotopes (239, 241) are fissionable with thermal neutrons releasing an extremely great quantity of energy.
Is plutonium 239 fissionable?
Yes, this isotope is very fissionable and is used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
What is meant by supercritical andhow dose it relate to making a nuclear bomb?
subcritical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material unable to sustain a neutron chain reaction. It can provide a fixed amount of neutron multiplication from a neutron source, but after removal of the neutron source the chain reaction rate drops exponentially.critical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material capable of sustaining a constant neutron chain reaction. No increase or decrease. (Nuclear reactors operate at critical)supercritical - a mass or arrangement of fissionable or fissile material capable of not only sustaining a neutron chain reaction, but once initiated the chain reaction rate rises exponentially. (Nuclear fission bombs explode when made supercritical)A nuclear fission bomb must have 2 of these states: subcritical (so that it can't explode until desired) and supercritical (so that it explodes with an effective yield). This requires a rapid "assembly" system using conventional explosives to rearrange the fissile material from subcritical to supercritical in about 1ms. A neutron source starts the chain reaction and the explosion completes in about 1 microsecond.
What do nuclear plants use instead of fossil fuels?
Nuclear plants use fissionable material to generate heat instead of burning fossil fuel for the same purpose. The fissionable fuel is in the core of a nuclear reactor, and this core and the associated elements of the nuclear plant allow us to tap nuclear energy via nuclear fission.
What is the technology behind the atomic bomb?
Essentially, a core of fissionable material is impacted to such a degree that it will begin to undergo fission because of loose neutrons impacting the nuclei of the fissionable material. There are two methods, the first is by firing a bullet of fissionable material into a larger mass, and the second is by using conventional explosives to simultaneously concuss the material on all sides.
Critical mass is the of material required to produce a chain reaction?
minimum amount
What causes explosion in fission reaction?
A nuclear explosion is caused by the uncontrolled mass fission of a quantity of fissionable material, and the explosion is the sudden release of energy produce almost instantaneously due to the rapidity of a chain reaction in weapons grade uranium (this is an example, being the most common fissionable material used in nuclear explosives), which must be at least 95% U-235 (the same quality is required for naval nuclear reactors on board ships and submarines, which are used for supply power to be used to propel the ship).Nuclear explosions can also occur when a nuclear reactor is not properly maintained, or there is a meltdown (the structural failure of some critical component of the reactor leading to a breach of containment, and usually fires and complete structural failure).The only differences between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb are the level of enrichment of the fissionable material (which there is no difference in if you are talking about a high-grade naval reactor), and the control rods and other safety features which are used to keep the reactor under control.The other type of nuclear detonation is the fusion device. This resembles fission, except energy is released upon the fusing of heavy water hydrogen molecules. The hydrogen (or h-bomb) uses nuclear fission as stated about to start the reaction. Most if not all fusion bomb are measured in the megaton (millions of tons) range. Currently only the United States and Russia have fusion bombs.
Is an example of nuclear fission?
An example of nuclear fission might be a nuclear weapon. In this device, sub-critical masses of fissionable material are driven together by conventional explosives. This "assembles" a critical mass, and a chain reaction will follow. That is a nuclear fission chain reaction. In another example, a nuclear reactor has its control rods pulled and achieves criticality. It is brought to operating temperature and generates heat to make steam and drive turbines. The reactor operates on the principle of nuclear fission.
Why do nuclear reactors require a fissionable isotope?
The fissionable isotope is required for the nuclear reactor operation. The fissionable isotope when fissions it give energy due to the mass difference according to Einstein formula E = mc2
