In a nuclear reactor the decay of uranium produces fast neutrons with an average kinetic energy of 2 MeV. In order for the necessary chain reaction to occur in the reaction, the kinetic energy of these neutrons must be reduced to thermal, i.e. to about 25 meV. Neutrons can be decelerated into the medium by collisions. Justify what the medium would be most suitable for this task and why? Assume all collisions to be completely resilient, and estimate how many a collision of a neutron with a medium particle is required before the neutron is thermal?
In a nuclear reactor the decay of uranium produces fast neutrons with an average kinetic energy of 2 MeV. In order for the necessary chain reaction to occur in the reaction, the kinetic energy of these neutrons must be reduced to thermal, i.e. to about 25 meV. Neutrons can be decelerated into the medium by collisions. Justify what the medium would be most suitable for this task and why? Assume all collisions to be completely resilient, and estimate how many a collision of a neutron with a medium particle is required before the neutron is thermal?
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6. In a nuclear reactor the decay of uranium produces fast neutrons with an average kinetic energy of 2 MeV. In order for the necessary chain reaction to occur in the reaction, the kinetic energy of these neutrons must be reduced to thermal, i.e. to about 25 meV. Neutrons can be decelerated into the medium by collisions. Justify what the medium would be most suitable for this task and why? Assume all collisions to be completely resilient, and estimate how many a collision of a neutron with a medium particle is required before the neutron is thermal?
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