01 Force and Motion II
02 Pressure
03 Electricity
04 Electromagnetism
05 Electronics
06 Nuclear Physics
07 Quantum Physics

6.2.3 Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction

  1. If neutrons from the fission of uranium-235 continue to split other nuclei causing further fission, a chain reaction has occurred.
  2. The number of nuclei which undergo fission multiplies rapidly.
  3. In order for a chain reaction to take place, a minimum of one neutron from each fission must trigger further fission.
  4. At the same time, the mass of fission material must exceed a certain minimal mass known as the critical mass. If the material is less than this value, too many neutrons escape without hitting nuclei, preventing a chain reaction from happening.
(Chain Reaction)