Home › Alberta Diploma Exams › Physics › The Atom › What is a chain reaction, in the context of nucl…
What is a chain reaction, in the context of nuclear fission?
AA single fission event that never produces any neutrons
BA reaction that requires no free neutrons at all
CEach fission produces enough neutrons to trigger more fission
DA steady reaction that always slows down over time
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Each fission produces enough neutrons to trigger more fission
1. A single fission event releases a few free neutrons along with energy.
2. If each fission produces enough neutrons to trigger at least one more fission, the process becomes self-sustaining, called a chain reaction.
3. This directly contradicts saying no neutrons are produced or that no free neutrons are needed.
4. A true chain reaction does not steadily slow down, since each round can multiply the number of fissions.
5. So a self-sustaining sequence of fissions triggered by their own neutrons is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Atom", section 22.4 Nuclear Fission and Fusion_
Related questions
Why do the noble gases hardly react with any other element?What are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom called?Two atoms of the same element hold different numbers of neutrons. What are these two atomsWhat does the atomic number of an element count?Why are the eyes especially sensitive to radiation damage, reflected in their higher RBE vThe same 1.00 J of ionizing energy from the previous scenario is instead absorbed only by One rad is defined as 0.01 joules of ionizing energy deposited per kilogram of tissue. If What is the therapeutic ratio in radiotherapy?