When the control rods in a reactor core are completely lowered between the fuel rods, fission is prevented, and it shuts down. Metal fuel rods containing uranium pellets are bombarded with neutrons. A chain reaction results that releases energy and produces more neutrons.
Why is the chain reaction important in a nuclear power plant?
These chain reactions are what provide nuclear power plants with the energy that is then turned into electricity for use by people . In these reactions, neutrons generated by the fission process continue on to initiate fission in other atoms.
What is the purpose of the chain reaction in a nuclear power plant?
A chain reaction refers to a process in which neutrons released in fission produce an additional fission in at least one further nucleus . This nucleus in turn produces neutrons, and the process repeats. The process may be controlled (nuclear power) or uncontrolled (nuclear weapons).
Why does a nuclear chain reaction occur?
Fission chain reaction. Fission chain reactions occur because of interactions between neutrons and fissile isotopes (such as 235 U) . The chain reaction requires both the release of neutrons from fissile isotopes undergoing nuclear fission and the subsequent absorption of some of these neutrons in fissile isotopes.
What is a chain reaction in nuclear terms?
A reaction that initiates its own repetition . In a fission chain reaction, a fissionablenucleus absorbs a neutron and fissions spontaneously, releasing additional neutrons. These, in turn, can be absorbed by other fissionable nuclei, releasing still more neutrons.
What are the major disadvantages of nuclear power quizlet?
Nuclear energy produces no greenhouse gases, does not contribute to acid deposition, and is highly concentrated. Disadvantages of nuclear energy include the high cost of building a power plant and safety concerns about the operation of the plant and disposal of spent fuel rods .
Which type of nuclear reaction is not feasible to use for generating electricity because it takes such a large amount of heat to begin the reaction?
Why is nuclear fusion difficult to achieve. It requires extremely high temperatures because the small nuclei are positively charged and therefore repel each other. The high temperature means that they have enough kinetic energy to overcome their electrostatic repulsion.
What are the three main dangers of nuclear power?
- Meltdowns, terrorists & nuclear waste. The three main dangers of nuclear power:
- Reactor, generator & cooling towers. The three main parts of a nuclear power plant:
- Neutron. ...
- 1; more. ...
- 10,000 years. ...
- Kill; cancer. ...
- Concrete & stainless steel. ...
- Dry site, remote location & stable rocks.
Can a nuclear reaction be stopped?
The only way to control or stop a nuclear chain reaction is to stop the neutrons from splitting more atoms . Control rods made of a neutron-absorbing element such as boron reduce the number of free neutrons and take them out of the reaction. ... In that case, the chain reaction stops.
Is nuclear fusion is difficult to control?
Fusion, on the other hand, is very difficult . Instead of shooting a neutron at an atom to start the process, you have to get two positively charged nuclei close enough together to get them to fuse. ... This is why fusion is difficult and fission is relatively simple (but still actually difficult).
What is not needed for a nuclear chain reaction?
What is not needed for a nuclear chain reaction? atomic mass number . ... have unstable nuclei but are chemically indistinguishable from stable atoms.
How do you start a nuclear chain reaction?
In order to initiate most fission reactions, an atom is bombarded by a neutron to produce an unstable isotope, which undergoes fission. When neutrons are released during the fission process, they can initiate a chain reaction of continuous fission which sustains itself.
Why would a chain reaction need to be controlled in a nuclear reactor but not in a nuclear bomb?
The additional neutrons released may also hit other uranium or plutonium nuclei and cause them to split. Even more neutrons are then released, which in turn can split more nuclei. This is called a chain reaction. The chain reaction in nuclear reactors is controlled to stop it moving too quickly .
What is an example of a chain reaction?
A burning candle or other fire is an example of a chemical chain reaction. When a flammable material is surrounded by enough oxygen and is exposed to a source of heat or temperature above the flash point, a fire starts.
What is this type of chain reaction called?
So-called branching chain reactions are a form of chain reaction in which the number of chain carriers increases in each propagation. As a result the reaction accelerates very rapidly, sometimes being completed in less than 1/1,000th of a second. This condition sometimes is referred to as a chemical explosion.
What is known as chain reaction?
A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place . In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.
