Question

Which of the following explain why the critical mass of 239Pu is significantly smaller than that...

Which of the following explain why the critical mass of 239Pu is significantly smaller than that of 235U when used as a reactor fuel?

  1. 239Pu is more massive than 235U235U.
  2. 239Pu produces more neutrons per fission.
  3. 239Pu is easier to fission by thermal neutrons.
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Answer #1

Ans: 235Pu produces more neutrons per fission as compare to 235U.

235U releases an average of 2.5 neutrons per fission, while 239Pu releases an average of 2.7 neutrons per fission.

You expect plutonium to have the smaller critical mass because it emits more neutrons, and the critical mass is a function of having enough neutrons around to sustain a chain reaction

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