Fissile material
Fissile Material
Fissile Material (/ˈfɪsaɪl/; from Latin fissilis, meaning "able to be split") is a term used in nuclear engineering to refer to materials that are capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction.
Etymology
The term "fissile" is derived from the Latin word fissilis, which means "able to be split". This is in reference to the material's ability to undergo nuclear fission, a process in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei.
Definition
A fissionable material is considered fissile if it can sustain a chain reaction with low energy neutrons. This is a key characteristic that distinguishes fissile materials from other fissionable materials, which require high energy neutrons to sustain a chain reaction.
Examples
Common examples of fissile materials include Uranium-235, Plutonium-239, and Uranium-233. These materials are often used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons due to their ability to sustain a nuclear fission chain reaction.
Related Terms
- Fission: The process by which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei.
- Chain Reaction: A sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place.
- Nuclear Reactor: A device used to initiate and control a self-sustained nuclear chain reaction.
- Nuclear Weapon: A weapon that uses nuclear reactions to release destructive energy.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fissile material
- Wikipedia's article - Fissile material
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