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Chapter 43: Q11Q (page 1330)

A nuclear reactor is operating at a certain power level, with its multiplication factor k adjusted to unity. If the control rods are used to reduce the power output of the reactor to 25% of its former value, is the multiplication factor now a little less than unity, substantially less than unity, or still equal to unity?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The multiplication factor for power output to 25% of its former value remains unity.

Step by step solution

01

Multiplication Factor

The ratio of the number of neutrons for a particular generation of power to the number of neutrons initially for the same power generation is called the multiplication factor.

02

Whether the multiplication factor is less than unity or equal to the unity

The multiplication factor for power output to 25% of its former value remains unity because the control rod provides a reduced number of neutrons. The number of neutrons provided by the control rod completes the deficiency of neutrons due to a reduction in power output.

Therefore, the multiplication factor for power output to 25% of its former value remains unity.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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