UpperCardiologist523

UpperCardiologist523 t1_j4sx3h2 wrote

Reply to comment by echawkes in If nuclear fission in U-235 causes the atom to be split into 2 smaller atoms (such as Kr-92 and Ba-141) then how is it that U-236 is produced as waste since the U-235 was just split into smaller peices? by Ian98766

Wow, thanks for a great answer. I've always thought (probably because i misunderstood or remember wrong) while watching videos about Thorium-Salt reactors, how they were better than the breeder reactors we've currently on, and that current reactors were breeders, because of how inexspensive they were to build. I better go back and watch those videos one more time.

I knew about Hanford, which is a breeder.

Anyways. Thanks a lot for answers.

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UpperCardiologist523 t1_j4sgdet wrote

Reply to comment by echawkes in If nuclear fission in U-235 causes the atom to be split into 2 smaller atoms (such as Kr-92 and Ba-141) then how is it that U-236 is produced as waste since the U-235 was just split into smaller peices? by Ian98766

Does the level of energy the neutron hit with, decide what new atoms and therefore how many neutrons are left over? If not, what does? Or is it random?

Oh, and in your last paragraph. Does this mean that when they enrich uranium/plutonium, reactors are run on lower energy?

Sorry if I'm way off here. I'm a TV repair man, but curious about this.

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UpperCardiologist523 t1_j4q24oq wrote

Reply to comment by RobusEtCeleritas in If nuclear fission in U-235 causes the atom to be split into 2 smaller atoms (such as Kr-92 and Ba-141) then how is it that U-236 is produced as waste since the U-235 was just split into smaller peices? by Ian98766

Not a scientist so forgive me if i mess this up.

I often hear that When you hit a U235 atom with a neutron, it splits and results in 2 OR 3 new neutrons. I've always wondered about this OR part and stuggle to grasp at this seemingly random result.

Would the chance of an U235 atom ABSORBING the neutron and becoming U236, be in the about same ballpark chance? I understand these two different actions to not be correlated/connected, but i want to understand more, struggle with reading theory on my own and just wonder.

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