Question:
What is the difference between a nuclear reactor and a
nuclear bomb? Also what are some radioactive detectors? Thank you
Replies:
A nuclear reactor is controlled through moderators such as graphite which
absorb neutrons. This is a controlled chain reaction, placing the moderators
further into the nuclear pile slows the reaction. A nuclear bomb is not
controlled.
Radiation Detectors count various types of disintegrations or types of
radiation.
The Geiger counter is perhaps the most known which counts events per unit
time.
Other times of radiation detectors are X-ray, Gamma ray and even cosmic ray
detectors.
Dr. Myron
The basic difference is that in a nuclear reactor, the nuclear chain
reaction is kept at a level to be just barely self-sustaining. In a bomb,
the chain reaction accelerates madly until the energy produces causes the
assembly to fly apart. The distinction is exactly analogous to the
difference between gasoline burning in a car engine and a molotov cocktail.
As for radiation detectors, that's not my area of expertise, so I don't
know.
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