fissionable
Can be split
Fissionable describes material capable of undergoing nuclear fission—the splitting of atomic nuclei that releases enormous energy.
The term applies primarily to isotopes like uranium-235 and plutonium-239 used in reactors and weapons: fissionable material, fissionable fuel.
The word is nearly synonymous with fissile, though physicists sometimes distinguish between them technically.
Uncharged nuclear particle
- splittingDividing into parts
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- atomicOf elemental particles
cross-section · transmutation · capture · absorption · moderation · flux
Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- weapons-gradeEnriched for military use
centrifuge · yellowcake · hexafluoride · reprocessing · depleted uranium · fertile
Controlled fission apparatus
- control rodsNeutron-absorbing reactor components
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- coreCentral essential portion
fuel rods · breeder · power plant · criticality · supercritical · subcritical · chain reaction · thermal
Munition's explosive section
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- weaponryMilitary equipment collectively
- armamentCollective military weapons
ordnance · munition · detonation · explosion · blast · critical mass · implosion · yield
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
radioactive · contamination · fallout · dosimeter · shielding · exposure · iodine-131 · cesium-137
neutron
Uncharged nuclear particle
- splittingDividing into parts
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- nucleusCentral controlling part
atomic · cross-section · transmutation · capture · absorption · moderation · flux
uranium-235
Fissile nuclear isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
weapons-grade · centrifuge · yellowcake · hexafluoride · reprocessing · depleted uranium · fertile
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
- control rodsNeutron-absorbing reactor components
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
core · fuel rods · breeder · power plant · criticality · supercritical · subcritical · chain reaction · thermal · pressurized water
warhead
Munition's explosive section
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- weaponryMilitary equipment collectively
armament · ordnance · munition · detonation · explosion · blast · critical mass · implosion · yield · kiloton
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
beta · radioactive · contamination · fallout · dosimeter · shielding · exposure · iodine-131 · cesium-137 · strontium-90
fissionablenonfissionable
Cannot sustain chain reactions
unfissionable · stable · inert · unreactive · nonreactive