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Q116 (IAS/1995) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Atomic and nuclear physics Answer Verified

The difference between a nuclear reactor and an atomic bomb is that

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

A nuclear reactor operates a self-sustaining fission chain reaction but keeps the rate of fission and energy release under active control, using moderators and control rods to absorb neutrons and regulate power output; this is described as a controlled chain reaction used for steady energy generation. An atomic (fission) bomb is designed for an uncontrolled, extremely rapid chain reaction that releases vast energy in a fraction of a second; it relies on achieving supercritical configuration and does not use control rods or delayed-neutron moderation. Reactors also depend on delayed neutrons and multiple safety systems to maintain a narrow margin of reactivity and prevent runaway fission, which makes a reactor fundamentally different from a bomb [1].

Sources

  1. [1] https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/SnucEnerA-4.htm
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