4 ms·
A technical note about his note [1]. pg says, When that happens, it tends to happen fast, like a core going critical, but he probably means "like a core going
by RK 18y ago
A technical note about his note [1]. pg says, When that happens, it tends to happen fast, like a core going critical, but he probably means "like a core going supercritical", which is when a chain reaction goes on at an increasing rate (i.e. what you need for a nuclear explosion). Critical is an equilibrium (i.e the self-sustaining condition, as used for power generation).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_mass http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_mass
- palish 18y agoMore important than technical accuracy, I knew what he meant.
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- pg 18y agoHmm. I could change it. But are you sure it wouldn't be hypercorrect to phrase it that way? Isn't going critical a kind of shorthand for going supercritical, because in practice any situation that produces the first is going to produce the second? Edit: Actually I think criticality is the right metaphor. It's a change in state from what preceded it. That's the important part, not the resulting explosion. (Arguably there are in fact analogs to control rods in online discussions-- nesting depth, the fact that people get tired after a while, etc.)
- gravitycop 18y agoReaching criticality is a normal goal for the operators of a controlled nuclear reactor (nuclear power reactor unit; research reactor; etc.). A reactor that has reached criticality is usually one that is operating normally. For example: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22initial+criticality%22 http://www.google.com/search?q=%22initial+criticality%22 The JRR-4, which reached initial criticality in 1965, had contenued to aperate safely until 1996 using uranium of a high concentration of 93% [...] Unit 1 reached initial criticality on March 8, 1988 and went into commercial operation on August 25. Unit 2 reached initial criticality on March 12, ...
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- mynameishere 18y agoSure, and the result of that "normality" is furiously boiling water.
- Zev 18y agoIf you're aiming to make tea, then that might be the goal, yes.
- gravitycop 18y agothe result of [core criticality] is furiously boiling water. Not in a PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressurized_water_reactor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressurized_water_reactor If a nuclear reactor's core is not critical, that nuclear reactor is not on.