--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Why is heavy water employed as a moderator

Describe why is heavy water employed as a moderator? Illustrate.

E

Expert

Verified

Heavy water is highly enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium. We can evaluate the neutron interactions with billiard ball collision, where the neutron collides with nucleus of other atoms and lose energy. When the colliding nucleus size is small such as hydrogen nucleus it will lose the maximum energy. When nucleus is heavy, then the neutron hits the nucleus just alters its direction however not that much change in the energy of neutron. Therefore we use heavy water as moderator to slow down the neutrons.

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Explain Coulombs law Coulomb's law (C.

    Coulomb's law (C. de Coulomb): The basic law for electrostatics, equivalent to Newton's law of universal gravitation. It defines that the force between two point charges is proportional to the arithmetical product of their respective

    		•
  • Q : Calculating current in magnetically

    For the magnetically coupled circuit in Figure a, calculate I1 and I2. If the dotted terminals in are changed so that the circuit now becomes that in Figure b, re-calculate I1 and I2.

  • Q : Free fall acceleration What do you mean

    What do you mean by the term free fall acceleration? State its significance in brief?

    		•
  • Q : What is Universal age paradox Universal

    Universal age paradox: The two most straightforward techniques of computing the age of the Universe -- via red-shift measurements, and via stellar evolution -- outcome incompatible outcomes. Recent (in mid 1990s) measurements of the distances of far-a

    		•
  • Q : Explain Stern-Gerlach experiment

    Stern-Gerlach experiment (O. Stern, W. Gerlach; 1922): The experiment which explains the features of spin (that is intrinsic angular momentum) as a different entity apart from the orbital angular momentum.

    		•
  • Q : What is Curie constant and Curies law

    What is Curie constant and Curies law? Curie constant: C (P. Curie): The characteristic constant, dependent on the material in question that points out the proportionality among its susceptibility

    		•
  • Q : Universal law of universal gravitation

    Describe the universal law of universal gravitation? Briefly describe it.

    		•
  • Q : What is Geometrized units Geometrized

    Geometrized units: The system of units whereby certain basic constants (G, c, k, and h) are set to unison. This makes computations in certain theories, like general relativity, much simpler to deal with, as such constants appear often.

    Q : Explain Twin paradox Twin paradox: One

    Twin paradox: One of the most well-known "paradoxes" in history, predicted by Sir Einstein's special theory of relativity. It takes two twins, born on similar date on Earth. One, Albert, leaves home for a trip about the Universe at very high speeds (v

    		•
  • Q : Define Steradian or SI unit of solid

    Steradian: sr: The supplementary SI unit of solid angle stated as the solid central angle of a sphere which encloses a surface on the sphere equivalent to the square of the sphere's radius.

    		•