critical mass
Fissile tipping point
Critical mass is the minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
The phrase has become common figuratively for the threshold at which something becomes self-sustaining or irreversible: The protest reached critical mass and spread to other cities.
A project, movement, or idea achieves critical mass when it has enough momentum to continue on its own.
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
neutrons · enrichment · radioactive · isotopes · nucleus · half-life · radiation · atomic
Threshold triggering major change
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- catalystAgent enabling change
breakthrough · inflection point · trigger · flashpoint · momentum shift · cascade · domino effect · ignition
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- forceStrength or compulsion
- energyPower to do work
- thrustForceful forward motion
propulsion · drive · power · kinetic energy · inertia · movement · unstoppable · self-sustaining
To distribute widely
- growthIncrease in size
- expansionIncrease in scope
- multiplicationProduct-finding operation
- snowballingIncreasing by rapid accumulation
amplification · exponential growth · accumulation · viral spread · network effect · diffusion · saturation · contagion
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
reactor · neutrons · enrichment · radioactive · isotopes · nucleus · half-life · radiation · atomic · nuclear physics
tipping point
Threshold triggering major change
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- watershedDrainage area boundary
catalyst · breakthrough · inflection point · trigger · flashpoint · momentum shift · cascade · domino effect · ignition · activation
velocity
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- forceStrength or compulsion
- energyPower to do work
thrust · propulsion · drive · power · kinetic energy · inertia · movement · unstoppable · self-sustaining · flywheel
spread
To distribute widely
- growthIncrease in size
- expansionIncrease in scope
- multiplicationProduct-finding operation
snowballing · amplification · exponential growth · accumulation · viral spread · network effect · diffusion · saturation · contagion · scaling
- scientific metaphorsblack hole, big bang, DNA, evolution, chain reaction
- Nuclearnuclear reactor, atomic bomb, nuclear energy, atomic bombs, uranium
- nuclear energynuclear power, nuclear reactors, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, uranium
- nuclear sciencenuclear fission, nuclear physics, nuclear fusion, radiation, nuclear fuel
- Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project, Los Alamos, Trinity test, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer
- Physical Limitsspeed of light, absolute zero, light speed, sound barrier, escape velocity
critical massshortfall
Failure to reach quota
deficit · scarcity · paucity · dearth · insufficiency
critical massnon-starter
Doomed idea or plan
fizzle · stagnation · losing steam · dead in the water · failure to launch
mass, critical, criticize, critics, critically, criticized, uncritical, hypercritical, criticizer