uranium-235
Bomb core isotope
Uranium-235 is a naturally occurring isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors and the fissile material in atomic weapons.
Unlike the more common uranium-238, U-235 can sustain a nuclear chain reaction when bombarded with neutrons.
Enrichment processes increase its concentration for various applications: weapons-grade uranium contains over 90% U-235.
radioactivity
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- ionizingProducing charged particles
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
isotope
Uncharged nuclear particle
- nuclideAtom classified by nucleus
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- abundanceAmple supply, overflowing
- isotopicVarying in nuclear mass
weapons
First nuclear-struck city
- gun-typeNuclear detonation method
- weapons-gradeEnriched for military use
- warheadMunition's explosive section
- implosionViolent collapse inward
fission
Uncharged subatomic particles
- splittingDividing into parts
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- cross-sectionView through interior
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
reactor
Million-watt units
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- heavy-waterWater containing deuterium
- light-waterH2O without deuterium
- burnupComplete combustion destruction
half-life
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- ionizingProducing charged particles
neutron
Uncharged nuclear particle
- nuclideAtom classified by nucleus
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- abundanceAmple supply, overflowing
Hiroshima
First nuclear-struck city
- gun-typeNuclear detonation method
- weapons-gradeEnriched for military use
- warheadMunition's explosive section
neutrons
Uncharged subatomic particles
- splittingDividing into parts
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- cross-sectionView through interior
megawatts
Million-watt units
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- heavy-waterWater containing deuterium
- light-waterH2O without deuterium
- Isotopescarbon-12, carbon-13, carbon-14, hydrogen-1, helium-3
- nuclear physicsnuclear energy, fission, nuclear fission, neutron, proton
- nuclear fuelfuel rods, plutonium, plutonium-239, spent fuel, nuclear fuel
- Nuclear Geologyradium, thorium, radioactivity, pitchblende, yellowcake
- Nuclear Materialsplutonium, plutonium-239, U-235, weapons-grade plutonium, thorium
- radioactive materialsplutonium, radium, thorium, radon, polonium