Nuclear Chain Reaction In a Nuclear Power Plant
Q. Explain the nuclear chain reaction in a nuclear power plant.
- A nuclear chain reaction involves the fission (splitting) of large radioactive atoms like uranium or plutonium into smaller atoms-the splitting of uranium or plutonium starts with the uranium or plutonium and a single neutron.
- When one uranium or plutonium atom splits, not only do you get smaller atoms, you also get more neutrons.
- As these extra neutrons are produced, they will collide with another uranium (or plutonium) atoms and cause it to split and again produce more extra neutrons which can cause further fission-this is called as chain reaction.
- The fission will continue as long as fissionable atoms are present.