The critical mass of a fissionable substance is the ________.
A)minimum amount required for a self-sustaining chain reaction
B)minimum amount required for radioactive decay
C)maximum amount that will detonate when separated into subcritical pieces
D)maximum amount needed to make a nuclear power plant operate sustainably

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The critical mass of a fissionable substance is the minimum amount required for a self-sustaining chain reaction. This means that if there is less than the critical mass present, a sustained chain reaction will not occur, while if there is more than the critical mass present, a sustained chain reaction will occur, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.

The Critical Mass of a Fissionable Substance Is the ________