--%>

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 : Collision & Transition State Theory

    Assuming ideal gas: a)  Calculate the average velocity of a nitrogen molecule at 298K and compare to the velocity of a helium molecule at the same conditions. b)      Calculate the temperature wh

  • Q : Define Olbers paradox Olbers' paradox

    Olbers' paradox (H. Olbers; 1826): If the Universe is infinite, consistent, and unchanging then the whole sky at night would be bright -- concerning as bright as the Sun. The further you stared out into space, the more stars there would be, and theref

  • Q : On which gravitational force depends

    Explain in short on which the gravitational force depends on?

  • Q : Problem on waveforms The voltage v mV

    The voltage v mV in a circuit is given by: v = 20 sin (200 Πt - 0.7854)           where t is the time in seconds (a) State the amplitude, frequency, period and phase angle of v.(b) Determine the initial voltage.(c) Determin

  • Q : Explain Pascals principle Pascal's

    Pascal's principle: The pressure exerted to an enclosed incompressible static fluid is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid.

  • Q : Free fall acceleration What do you mean

    What do you mean by the term free fall acceleration? State its significance in brief?

  • Q : Dynamic strain aging and the strain

    What is the basic difference among the dynamic strain aging and the strain aging?

  • Q : Explain Newtons law of universal

    Newton's law of universal gravitation (Sir I. Newton): Two bodies exert a pull on each other with equivalent and opposite forces; the magnitude of this force is proportional to the product result of the two masses and is too proportional to the invers

  • Q : Define Josephson effects Josephson

    Josephson effects (B.D. Josephson; 1962): Electrical effects examined whenever two superconducting materials are separated by a thin layer of the insulating substance.

  • Q : Water drain contradict problem Does

    Does water drain contradict clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemi-sphere? Briefly explain it.