Why are neutrons often used to initiate nuclear fission in reactors?
Correct answer: B. Neutrons have no charge and can penetrate nuclei easily
- A. Neutrons are positively charged and attract nuclei
- B. Neutrons have no charge and can penetrate nuclei easily
- C. Neutrons are lighter than protons
- D. Neutrons increase the binding energy of the nucleus
Explanation
Neutrons, being uncharged, are not repelled by the positive charge of the nucleus, allowing them to penetrate and interact with the nucleus, triggering fission in isotopes like 92U235.
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Atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons, with nuclear size, mass defect and binding energy describing their stability. The work covers alpha, beta and gamma decay, decay equations, half-life and decay rate, along with radiation safety and medical applications such as imaging, radiotherapy and tracers.
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