--%>

Why is heavy water employed as a moderator

Describe why is heavy water employed as a moderator? Illustrate.

E

Expert

Verified

Heavy water is highly enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium. We can evaluate the neutron interactions with billiard ball collision, where the neutron collides with nucleus of other atoms and lose energy. When the colliding nucleus size is small such as hydrogen nucleus it will lose the maximum energy. When nucleus is heavy, then the neutron hits the nucleus just alters its direction however not that much change in the energy of neutron. Therefore we use heavy water as moderator to slow down the neutrons.

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Candela Candela : The basic SI unit of

    Candela: The basic SI unit of luminous intensity stated as the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source which emits monochromatic photons of frequency 540 x 1012 Hz and encompasses a radiant intensity in the direction of 1/683 W/

  • Q : Explain Ohms law Ohm's law (G. Ohm;

    Ohm's law (G. Ohm; 1827): The ratio of the potential difference among the ends of a conductor to the current flowing via it is constant; the constant of proportionality is termed as the resistance, and is distinct for different materials.

  • Q : Define Stefan-Boltzmann constant

    Stefan-Boltzmann constant: sigma (Stefan, L. Boltzmann): The constant of proportionality exist in the Stefan-Boltzmann law. It is equivalent to 5.6697 x 10-8 W/m2/K4.

  • Q : Define Pseudoforce Pseudoforce : The

    Pseudoforce: The "force" that arises as an observer is plainly treating an accelerating frame as an inertial one.

  • Q : Energy and light My question is Eph =

    My question is Eph = hcT. I have to rearrange the equation to make b b the subject and also find the SI units for b and how and why they are those units.....

  • Q : What is Hooke law Hooke's law (R.

    Hooke's law (R. Hooke): The stress exerted to any solid is proportional to the strain it generates within the elastic limit for that solid. The constant of that proportionality is the Young modulus of elasticity for that material.

  • Q : Define Faraday constant Faraday

    Faraday constant: F (M. Faraday): The electric charge fetched by one mole of electrons or singly-ionized ions. It is equivalent to the product result of the Avogadro constant and the absolute value of the charge on an electron; this i

  • Q : Define Ideal gas constant or universal

    Define Ideal gas constant or universal molar gas constant? Ideal gas constant: or universal molar gas constant; R: The constant which appears in the ideal gas equation. It is equivalent to

  • Q : Possibility to obtain the electron Is

    Is it possible to obtain the electron (or come out) from the nucleus?

  • Q : Define Weber or SI unit of magnetic flux

    Weber: Wb (after W. Weber, 1804-1891): The derived SI unit of magnetic flux equivalent to the flux that, connecting a circuit of one turn, generates in it an electromotive force of 1 V as it is decreased to zero at a uniform rate in a period of 1 s; i