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How are nuclear reactors different from breeder reactors?
Most nuclear reactors, in general, are designed and built to produce usable energy. The energy helps supply public demand for electricity, or provide propulsion for a combat vessel at sea, especially submarines. Some nuclear reactors are built for research only, to learn more about nuclear power and about better ways to utilize it. Nuclear reactors do not emit atmospheric contaminants like other energy-making processes do. They are not like combustion engines, and require no oxygen to burn for their function. Breeder reactors are a different story indeed. They do produce usable energy, but in too many cases their design purpose is to "breed" more fissionable material during the reaction process.
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 do they use uranium in power stations?
Because uranium-235 can easily be made to fission in a reactor with a moderator to slow the neutrons down, a chain reaction can be sustained, and heat is generated which can be harnessed for electricity. Uranium is usually used because it is the largest naturally occurring atom. A smaller atom would not split as easily, and a larger atom would first need to be created before it could be split.Also Uranium-235 is the only isotope capable of undergoing fission and supporting a chain reaction of any element on earth that occurs naturally at high enough levels (0.72% of natural Uranium) to make it economically extractable. Other fissionable materials have to be produced in sufficient quantities in "breeder reactors" where the radiation converts certain non-fissionable elements into other fissionable elements through neutron capture. Because uranium is much more common that was believed early in the development of nuclear reactors, it is much more economical to refine naturally occurring uranium (separating the U-235 from U238) than to use breeder reactors to convert non-fissionable isotopes into fissionable ones and then refine the result to produce more nuclear fuel.A very slightly different world (e.g. older) and nuclear energy and weapons might never have been possible at all.
Nuclear power plants require large volumes of what to cool reactors and convert heat to electricity?
Nuclear power plants require large volumes of water to cool reactors and convert heat to electricity. Reactors use normal water, heavy water, and even newer reactors use other forms of coolant.
Fissionable material that cannot sustain nuclear reaction?
Fissionable material that cannot sustain a nuclear reaction on its own is called fissile material. Examples include uranium-238 and thorium-232. These materials can undergo fission when bombarded with neutrons but require additional enrichment or a moderator to sustain a chain reaction.
The differences between nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs include what?
Nuclear reactors produce exactly one additional fission for each fission reaction while nuclear bombs don't Nuclear bombs are runaway fission reactions and reactors aren't (APEX)
Which of the following are differences between nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs?
Purpose: Nuclear reactors are designed to produce electricity through controlled nuclear fission, while nuclear bombs are designed to release a large amount of energy in an uncontrolled nuclear fission chain reaction. Control: Nuclear reactors have various safety features and control mechanisms to regulate the nuclear fission process, while nuclear bombs have no such controls and are designed for maximum energy release. Fuel Enrichment: Nuclear reactors typically use low-enriched uranium or plutonium as fuel, while nuclear bombs require highly enriched uranium or plutonium to achieve a rapid, explosive chain reaction.
What is the difference between 'fissile material' and 'fissionable material'?
Fissile material refers to substances that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction upon absorbing a slow neutron, such as uranium-235 and plutonium-239. In contrast, fissionable material includes any substance capable of undergoing fission, which can occur with either slow or fast neutrons; this category encompasses both fissile materials and those that require fast neutrons to undergo fission, like uranium-238. Thus, all fissile materials are fissionable, but not all fissionable materials are fissile.
What will happen if nuclear fission chain reaction goes on indefinitely?
It can and does in a reactor. Nothing special. However reactors usually require periodic refueling and maintenance, which may require short shutdowns or at least reduced operating power for these activities.
What is needed to make an nuclear missile?
You are asking about two different technologies: the nuclear warhead and the rocket propulsion system. Both require their own complex hardware derived from numerous raw materials. The warhead needs fissionable material and a trigger mechanism, and the misslie needs either solid or liquid fuel and ans a guidance system.
Why are most nuclear reactors near water?
Nuclear plants use water as both working fluid and coolant. The reactor itself is cooled by cold water (rarely salt or gas), and functions as a heater, creating steam, which works turbines, which, in turn, generate electricity.
How many nuclear power plants would the US need if They went 100 percent nuclear?
At the present time there are 104 operating reactors which provide 20 percent of total electricity. So 100 percent would require five times as many, 520 reactors. But newer ones have greater output than the average of those now operating, so it would probably be about 400 rather than over 500.
