Interpretation:
The terms critical mass, subcritical mass and supercritical mass to be described.
Concept introduction:
Nuclear fission forms energy that is achieved by nuclear reactors. This energy is used to form electricity at nuclear power plants.
Answer to Problem 65A
Critical mass:
The lowest mass of a sample of fissionable material that is essential to maintain a nuclear chain reaction is termed as critical mass.
Subcritical mass:
In this mass, neutrons emerge before causing sufficient fission to sustain chain reaction thus chain reaction does not start.
Supercritical mass:
A sample of fissionable material is claimed to have supercritical mass, with a mass greater than the critical mass.
Explanation of Solution
Critical mass:
The lowest mass of a sample of fissionable material that is essential to maintain a nuclear chain reaction is termed as critical mass. Neutrons discharged in one fission that generates other fissions to happen on the presence of critical mass.
Subcritical mass:
Subcritical mass assign to a radio isotopic sample which is not sufficiently dense or massive to survive a fission chain reaction. In this mass, neutrons emerge before causing sufficient fission to sustain chain reaction thus chain reaction does not start.
Supercritical mass:
A sample of fissionable material is claimed to have supercritical mass, with a mass greater than the critical mass. In a supercritical mass, neutrons generate more and more fissions and chain reaction accelerates.
For a chain reaction to occur a sample of fissionable material must have adequate mass. If not, neutrons escape from a sample by hitting other nuclei before they can initiate chain reaction.
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