What is a fissile material?

What is a fissile material?

• A. A material that cannot undergo chain reactions.
• B. A fuel grade radioactive material capable of undergoing a nuclear chain reaction.
• C. A non-radioactive fuel.
• D. A radioactive material that decays without chain reactions.

Answer: (B)

Fissile materials are those that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction after absorbing a neutron. They are typically radioactive and can be used as reactor fuel because their nuclei readily fission and release neutrons that keep the reaction going. The description that best fits is a fuel-grade radioactive material capable of undergoing a nuclear chain reaction, since it emphasizes both radioactivity and the ability to sustain fission in a chain reaction. Materials that cannot undergo chain reactions do not meet fissile criteria. A non-radioactive fuel cannot be fissile, and a radioactive material that decays without initiating a chain reaction also does not exhibit fissile behavior. Common examples include uranium-235 and plutonium-239.

Fissile materials are those that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction after absorbing a neutron. They are typically radioactive and can be used as reactor fuel because their nuclei readily fission and release neutrons that keep the reaction going. The description that best fits is a fuel-grade radioactive material capable of undergoing a nuclear chain reaction, since it emphasizes both radioactivity and the ability to sustain fission in a chain reaction. Materials that cannot undergo chain reactions do not meet fissile criteria. A non-radioactive fuel cannot be fissile, and a radioactive material that decays without initiating a chain reaction also does not exhibit fissile behavior. Common examples include uranium-235 and plutonium-239.