Describe how the control rods in a nuclear reactor are used to regulate nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor.

A control rod is a device that can be used to absorb neutrons released from nuclear fission. They can be used to slow down or completely stop a reaction by lowering them or raising them into the reactor chamber . They are useful as nuclear fission on average releases 2.5 neutron per reaction where the process only needs one to continue the chain reaction. The control rods absorb these extra neutrons adjusting the power output of the nuclear reactor to a satisfactory level to be sure the reactor does not overheat which would lead to failure.

LJ

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Using the kinetic molecular theory,explain why air pressure inside a syringe increases if the volume decreases from 15.0 cm


According to Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Why then does a box move when I push it? Shouldn't the two opposing forces cancel out to a zero net force?


How do I work out the efficiency of a process from a Sankey diagram?


Is momentum a vector or a scalar quantity?