As explained in the previous section, if you want to have a nuclear reaction chain starting into your reactor, you need to enrich the uranium to have more uranium 235 available. It is assumed that you need to have about 4% of uranium 235 in order to maintain the reaction chain and to produce enough neutrons. Those neutrons are, however, too energetic to induce another fission reaction, it is needed first to reduce their energy. In most reactors, this is the role of the water located inside. 1) Explain how the energy is stored inside the neutrons 2) How can the water reduce this energy? 3) Is the water the only thing able to act as moderator? 4) What is the effect of the moderator on the cross-section of the atoms of uranium 235?
As explained in the previous section, if you want to have a nuclear reaction chain starting into your reactor, you need to enrich the uranium to have more uranium 235 available. It is assumed that you need to have about 4% of uranium 235 in order to maintain the reaction chain and to produce enough neutrons. Those neutrons are, however, too energetic to induce another fission reaction, it is needed first to reduce their energy. In most reactors, this is the role of the water located inside. 1) Explain how the energy is stored inside the neutrons 2) How can the water reduce this energy? 3) Is the water the only thing able to act as moderator? 4) What is the effect of the moderator on the cross-section of the atoms of uranium 235?
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Transcribed Image Text:As explained in the previous section, if you want to have a nuclear reaction chain starting into
your reactor, you need to enrich the uranium to have more uranium 235 available. It is assumed
that you need to have about 4% of uranium 235 in order to maintain the reaction chain and to
produce enough neutrons. Those neutrons are, however, too energetic to induce another fission
reaction, it is needed first to reduce their energy. In most reactors, this is the role of the water
located inside.
1) Explain how the energy is stored inside the neutrons
2) How can the water reduce this energy?
3) Is the water the only thing able to act as moderator?
4) What is the effect of the moderator on the cross-section of the atoms of uranium 235?
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