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Difference Between a Nuclear Reactor and a Nuclear Bomb

Table of Contents

Nuclear Reactor vs Nuclear Bomb

Nuclear Reactor

A nuclear reactor is a machine where electricity and heat energy is generated by utilizing the power of atoms. In this mechanism, nuclear chain reactions are produced, controlled, and contained releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This controlled energy is used in electricity generation and radioactive isotopes production. These isotopes are used in the treatment and research of cancer in the medical field. All operating nuclear reactors are “critical.” When reactors are running at a constant power level, they are said to be in a “critical condition.”

These reactors use heavy atoms as fuel instead of fossil fuels. Fast-moving electrons strike a radioactive nucleus such as Plutonium-239 or Uranium-235 causing the nucleus to split. This splitting process is known as fission. In the process of fission, a tremendous amount of energy, radiation, and free electrons are released. These free electrons that are released are guided to strike other nuclei and so on causing a chain reaction.

Neutron moderators and neutron poisons control these fast-moving electrons and slow them down while becoming absorbed in other nuclei, thus managing the output of electricity from a reactor. The moderators are: heavy water, water, and solid graphite.

Nuclear Bomb

In a nuclear bomb there is a nuclear device having massive destructive power coming from uncontrolled fusion and fission reactions. The fusion and fission processes generate a tremendous amount of energy with a small amount of matter. This matter is usually the unstable nuclei of Plutonium-239 and Uranium-235. An atom bomb is categorized as a fission bomb and a hydrogen bomb as a fusion bomb are both weapons of mass destruction. In World War II, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are recent examples of such mass destruction. In fusion bombs, nuclear fusion is the result of a huge amount of released energy while in the case of fission bombs the released energy is the result of fission reactions.

Summary:

  • The chain reactions process used in nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs both  release a vast amount of energy.

  • The manner in which the energy is controlled and utilized is different in both cases.

  • In nuclear reactors, the reaction is moderated and controlled for use for peaceful purposes, while in nuclear bombs the reaction is uncontrolled.

  • In nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs, the rate of energy  released varies a great extent although the process is identical.

  • All operating reactors are “critical” while there is no question of “criticality” in case of a nuclear bomb.


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