Question

In order for fission reactions to be successful, they must be self-perpetuating, meaning they must be able to keep themselves going.
What do you call the minimum amount of material that is needed for the reaction to keep going?

A) isotope
B) mass defect
C) critical mass
D) neutron

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C is correct.

The minimum amount of material that is needed for a fission reaction to keep going is called the critical mass.

Explanation:

Nuclear fission is the term used to describe the breakdown of the nucleus of a parent isotope into daughter nuclei.

Normally, the initial energy supplied for nuclear fission is the energy to initiate the first breakdown of the first set of radioactive isotopes that breakdown. Once that happens, the energy released from the first breakdown is enough to drive further breakdown of numerous isotopas in a manner that leads to more energy generation.

But, for this to be able to be sustained and not fizzle out, a particular amount of radioactive material to undergo nuclear fission must be present. This particular amount is termed 'critical mass'

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