The original reactor built in 1942 was just "barely" critical because the natural uranium that was used contained less than 1% of the fissionable isotope U-235 (half-life 713 million years)

What if, in 1942, the Earth had been 9 billion years old instead of 4.5 billion years old? Would this reactor have reached critical stage with natural uranium? Why? A) No. The age of the Earth has nothing to do with the reactor reaching critical stage with U-235.
B) No. 1% of the fissionable isotope U-235 is insufficient for the reactor to reach critical stage no matter what the age of the Earth.
C) Yes. If the Earth had been twice as old there would have then been twice as much fissionable U-235 present and the reactor would have reached critical stage.
D) No. The increased age of the Earth would mean that there would be a much smaller percentage of U-235, thus not enough for the reactor to reach critical stage.


D

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

Which is an example of a nonmetallic mineral? Ca = calcium, Cu = copper, Al = aluminum

A. gypsum: CaSO4 B. azurite: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 C. gold: Au D. gibbsite: Al(OH)3

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The highest priority "R" of waste reduction is "reuse."

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The North/South Divide is used in our text to distinguish

A) North African states from Sub-Saharan states. B) anti-slavery from pro-slavery states. C) former colonizers from formerly colonized states. D) (former) communist from non-communist states.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following is a correct example of global warming creating a positive feedback?

A. Warming air melts permafrost releasing methane, a natural absorber of potent greenhouse gases. B. Warming oceans release less water vapor, a potent greenhouse gas which absorbs longwave radiation, further increasing temperature. C. Less water evaporating will create more high level clouds causing the surface to warm. D. Warming oceans release more water vapor, a potent greenhouse gas which absorbs longwave radiation, further increasing temperature.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences