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Physics Cheat Sheet 2

1) There are three main types of nuclear reactors - thermal, fast breeder, and fusion. 2) Thermal reactors use enriched uranium-235 fuel rods and slow neutrons to sustain a chain reaction, while fast breeders use plutonium-239 fuel and breed more plutonium from uranium-238. 3) Fusion reactors aim to fuse hydrogen nuclei through high temperatures and pressures to release binding energy, mimicking nuclear fusion in stars.

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338 views1 page

Physics Cheat Sheet 2

1) There are three main types of nuclear reactors - thermal, fast breeder, and fusion. 2) Thermal reactors use enriched uranium-235 fuel rods and slow neutrons to sustain a chain reaction, while fast breeders use plutonium-239 fuel and breed more plutonium from uranium-238. 3) Fusion reactors aim to fuse hydrogen nuclei through high temperatures and pressures to release binding energy, mimicking nuclear fusion in stars.

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Jacob Garnaut 11A

A-B=electrostatic force (long distance) Power: Note:


B FISSILE- a nucleus capable of splitting
A-A2=nuclear (close proximity)
into two nuclei by absorbing a
REACTOR TYPES: neutron.
 Thermal Few fissile isotopes-
 Fast breeder eg: Pu-239 & U-235
 Fusion Energy:
A
Constant (speed of light)
Critical mass- the minimum amount of enriched m/s
material in a sphere to sustain a chain reaction.
THERMAL:
Subcritical- not enough neutrons to sustain chain Fuel rod- contains U-235 (enriched uranium) for fission
reaction through absorption of SLOW neutron.
Critical- sustained chain reaction (power plant) Control rod- controls flow of neutrons by absorbing
Supercritical- chain reaction grows and explosion some neutrons to control reaction.
occurs (nuclear weapon) Moderator- slows neutrons (small nuclei).
Shape of sample affects critical mass. Coolant- absorbs heat energy from fission. Heat used to
Eg: Flat=subcritical. Spherical=supercritical. generate power (pressurised to avoid boiling).
Below: critical reaction (left)supercritical reaction
(right)

FUSION FAST BREEDER:


Fast hydrogen nuclei must be fired at each Fuel rod- contains plutonium-239 for fission through
other to overcome the electrostatic force absorption of a FAST neutron. It has a uranium-238
of the positive protons. blanket to absorb fast neutrons and breed more Pu-239.
When 2 protons and 2 neutrons are Control rod- controls flow of neutrons by absorbing
separate they have more energy called some neutrons to control reaction
binding energy. When the nuclei are fused Coolant- absorbs heat energy from fission. Heat used to
together this binding energy is lost generate power (pressurised to avoid boiling).
through a loss of mass. Calculated by
.
(U-235= shorter half-life)

NUCLEAR WASTE
Low: tools, clothing, wrapping contaminated shortly by
radionuclides. 90% of volume, 1% of radioactivity.
Compacted/incinerated then buried in shallow pits.
Intermediate: reactor components, chemical sludge.
Solidified in bitumen/concrete, stored in deep trenches.
High: contaminated reactor parts. 95% of radioactivity, 3% of
volume. Reused or stored in cooling pods.

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