Fission and fusion - Lesson 4
OUTCOME
By the end of the lesson you will you will understand how a fast breeder reactor core operates and how it differs from a conventional Uranium reactor core.
In fast breeder reactors the one of the products of the reaction is Plutonium-239 which is itself a fissionable material.
If we have the products of fission reactions making more fissionable material do we not have an infinite energy source?
LEARNING TASKS
Explain
Watch the video on how fast breeder reactors work and answer:
What are the similarities between and a fast breeder reactor and a conventional uranium reactor.
What are the differences between and a fast breeder reactor and a conventional uranium reactor.
Why are they less common?
Construct the decay chain that happens in the fuel rods.
Do fast breeders need moderators?
Explore
Read page 352 of your textbook and do some research into the disaster that occurred in Chernobyl 1986.
From your research i would like for you to outline exactly what happened inside the core of the Chernobyl reactor.
Elaborate
Complete the questions 17-20 on the page 361
Make sure you are up to date with your forum contributions. Remember you should have asked two questions and answered two questions by the end of the fortnight