Question

Explain why “weapons-grade” Uranium would not likely contain very much Uranium-238.

Use the “Nuclear Reactor” tab to determine the purpose of control rods within a nuclear fission reactor

Using the “Chain Reaction” tab, determine the criteria and settings needed to create an atomic bomb.

Answer 1

Weapon grade uranium has almost 90% of Uranium-235.which makes it highly reactive and effective to be used for making weapons. The naturel low grade uranium with les than 0.7% Uranium-235 cannot be used as active substance in this case.

Control rods are used to absorb the released neutrons formed in the nucelar decay process. The high energy netron particles are absorbed by these rods mostly made up of cadmium or boron.

Chain reaction is one where the products formed acts as the strating material for the further steps. So the process continues. The radionuclide element must release a huge amount of energy in the process with ample amounts of neutrons along with it.