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Nuclear energy
Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its component parts. The component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy of nuclei is always a positive number, since all nuclei require net energy to separate them into individual protons and neutrons.
Industry: Energy
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Nuclear energy
Critical organ
Energy; Nuclear energy
That part of the body that is most susceptible to radiation damage under the specific conditions under consideration.
Critical mass
Energy; Nuclear energy
The smallest mass of fissionable material that will support a self-sustaining chain reaction.
Counter
Energy; Nuclear energy
A general designation applied to radiation detection instruments or survey metres that detect and measure radiation. The signal that announces an ionisation event is called a count.
Chain reaction
Energy; Nuclear energy
A reaction that initiates its own repetition. In a fission chain reaction, a fissionable nucleus absorbs a neutron and fissions spontaneously, releasing additional neutrons. These, in turn, can be ...
Condenser
Energy; Nuclear energy
A large heat exchanger designed to cool exhaust steam from a turbine below the boiling point so that it can be returned to the heat source as water. In a pressurized-water reactor, the water is ...
Alpha particle
Energy; Nuclear energy
A positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some radioactive elements. It is identical to a helium nucleus that has a mass number of 4 and an electrostatic charge of +2. It ...
Attenuation
Energy; Nuclear energy
The process by which the number of particles or photons entering a body of matter is reduced by absorption and scattered radiation.
