Radioactivity

Difference between thermal neutron and fast neutron
Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Power Plant

Neutron is a sub-atomic particle situated within the nucleus of the atom. It is electrically neutral (i.e. chargeless particle) and has mass slightly higher than that of the proton. Neutrons, together with protons, are called nucleons. When the neutron stays within the nucleus, it remains highly stable and can be expelled by nuclear transmutation only. However, when a neutron stays outside the nucleus, it becomes highly unstable and undergoes radioactive

Nuclear Fusion Reactions
Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear fission is one type of nuclear reaction where a heavier nucleus, when bombarded by neutron of sufficient velocity, splits into two or more lighter nuclei and at the same time releases one or more neutrons and energy. The neutrons produced in one fission reaction can once again participate in fission of the other nucleus of fissile materials leading to a self-sustained chain reaction. The cumulative mass of the reaction

Differences between Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 isotopes
Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear fission is one type of nuclear transmutation where a heavier nucleus, when bombarded with the neutron, splits into two or more lighter neutrons. It is also accompanied by the release of one or more neutrons and thermal energy owing to mass defect. Human has already mastered the nuclear fission reaction, and now-a-days it is extensively used in nuclear reactors for electricity or power generation and also in nuclear weapons.

Differences between gaseous diffusion and gas centrifuge techniques for uranium enrichment
Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Power Plant

Naturally available uranium consists of mainly uranium-238 isotope (about 99.3% of the natural uranium is U-238 isotope, 0.7% is U-235 isotope and trace amount of U-234). Among the three naturally available isotopes of uranium, only U-235 is fissile material and can sustain chain reaction as it offers higher cross-section towards thermal neutron. So only U-235 can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors, but its availability in the natural uranium