Atomic Bombs and Nuclear Reactors Simulated. Explaining why critical mass is a confusing term in nuclear physics. The critical mass depends on a lot more than the mass in nuclear fission. Using simulations to show these reasons as well as how a nuclear reactor are designed, and how an atomic devices work.
The critical mass depends on:
Mass, Purity, Geometry, Density, Neutron Initiator, Tamper, Neutron Deflector and more
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Critical Assembly Simulator by Alex Wellerstein:
https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/misc/criticality/
- Scenes from the amazing HBO Chernobyl series.
- Scenes from the excellent Oppenheimer movie.
0:00 Introduction
0:40 Nuclear Fission & Critical Mass
2:58 Building the simulation
5:06 Criticality: Purity
6:11 Criticality: Control Rods
7:22 Criticality: Shape
8:20 Criticality: Density
10:05 Criticality: Neutron initiator
10:28 Criticality: Tamper
10:54 Criticality: Neutron reflector
11:24 Thanks for watching