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A nuclear weapon requires highly enriched U-235 or Pu-239, whilst reactors usually don't contain fuel with more than 5 percent fissile material, this is for the vast majority true and for all power reactors. There are some small research ones that may have up to 20 percent U-235 but still not enough for a weapon. The other point is that a weapon requires a critical assembly to be put together in a very short time to get an explosion, whilst in a reactor the fissile material is spread out in an array of fuel assemblies, it could not be suddenly brought together in one mass. The worst that can happen in a reactor is overheating and melting of the fuel, which is a commercial disaster but the reactor design should contain the results in the secondary containment, with only small release of activity outside the plant boundaries. At Chernobyl the design did not have secondary containment, but it's important to realise that the explosion there was due to a surge in steam pressure, not a nuclear explosion, though fuel melting did then occur. That design would never be approved in the US or the EU areas.
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Can a nuclear reactor explode as a nuclear bomb?
Highly unlikely if not altogether impossible. In a core meltdown, you might see a steam explosion if the core melts and breaches the containment structure and hits say cooling water. But even a runaway chain reaction in a reactor would not cause a nuclear explosion like a bomb.
Why is it not possible to make a bomb from reactor grade uranium?
Reactor-grade uranium is not suitable for making a bomb because it contains a lower concentration of the fissile isotope U-235, which is necessary for sustaining a nuclear chain reaction required for a bomb to explode. The U-235 content in reactor-grade uranium is too low to achieve the rapid and efficient chain reaction needed for a nuclear explosion.
Can a nuclear reactor detonate the way a nuclear bomb can?
No, a nuclear reactor cannot detonate like a nuclear bomb. Nuclear reactors use controlled fission reactions to generate heat for electricity, while nuclear bombs use uncontrolled chain reactions to create an explosion. The design and purpose of a reactor prevent it from causing a nuclear explosion.
Did a nuclear plant ever exploded in the US?
Yes, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania experienced a partial core meltdown in 1979, which resulted in the most serious accident in the history of the US commercial nuclear power generating industry. However, the reactor did not explode like a nuclear bomb.
What happens when a nuclear reactor in a nuclear submarrine explodes?
It can't explode like a nuclear bomb. It could have a steam explosion, as can any steam power plant. It is also possible for it to build up hydrogen gas if it runs too hot and damages its fuel rods, the hydrogen could explode.
Can a nuclear reactor explode as a nuclear bomb?
Highly unlikely if not altogether impossible. In a core meltdown, you might see a steam explosion if the core melts and breaches the containment structure and hits say cooling water. But even a runaway chain reaction in a reactor would not cause a nuclear explosion like a bomb.
Did chernobyl explode like a bomb?
It did explode, but this was due to a surge in steam pressure which blew off the top of the reactor, it was not a nuclear explosion as in a nuclear weapon.
What is the difference between the nuclear reactions in a nuclear reactor and those in an atomic bomb?
Nuclear reactions in a nuclear reactor are controlled reactions. The reactions in the atomic bomb are not controlled reactions
What are the negatives about using Nuclear Energy?
This is not correct. Assuming "Using Nuclear Energy" means using it to generate electricity in a reactor. A nuclear reactor is a power plant, that uses nuclear fission to eventually generate electricity. An atom bomb also uses nuclear fission to generate energy causing an explosion. However, due to fundamental differences between the two a nuclear reactor cannot explode like an atom bomb.
Why is it not possible to make a bomb from reactor grade uranium?
Reactor-grade uranium is not suitable for making a bomb because it contains a lower concentration of the fissile isotope U-235, which is necessary for sustaining a nuclear chain reaction required for a bomb to explode. The U-235 content in reactor-grade uranium is too low to achieve the rapid and efficient chain reaction needed for a nuclear explosion.
Can a nuclear reactor detonate the way a nuclear bomb can?
No, a nuclear reactor cannot detonate like a nuclear bomb. Nuclear reactors use controlled fission reactions to generate heat for electricity, while nuclear bombs use uncontrolled chain reactions to create an explosion. The design and purpose of a reactor prevent it from causing a nuclear explosion.
What year did the nuclear bomb explode in hiroshima?
1945
How do you use radioactive material?
If you are a smart guy, you can make a nuclear bomb, or a nuclear reactor...
When did Pakistan explode their first atomic bomb?
18th May1998, but its not atomic bomb (its nuclear bomb)
What inventions did Lloyd quarterman invent?
the atomic bomb and the nuclear reactor
Can a nuclear bomb explode in space and produce a mushroom cloud?
No
Could a type of bomb pierce the melting rods of a nuclear reactor?
yes
