@ Bill K: My question had to do with the relation of neutron absorption on account of weight. I couldn't see why weight would alter a nucleus's ability to absorb neutrons the heavier the material. I was using the question about moderators as a plot for the question. I see now that the speed of...
Ok ok, I see what you're saying. But I need to know why the neutron is absorbed in the first place. Like you are saying, lighter element will not absorb the neutron. So why is it that the Uranium can absorb the neutron if the variable which defines an element or isotopes ability to take the...
Ok, but a Uranium is heavier than both the lead and, say, lithium nuclei. I still don't undertand why, say, a Uranium-235 or a Plutonium-239 nuclei can absorb the neutron when it simply shouldn't upon such grounds. Does it have to do with a combined strong nuclear force between sub-particles, or...
I have had a question that I cannot get an answer for. I recently had an exam for energy in the nucleus which included a question about why lead nuclei would be inadequate for use as a moderator in a reactor. When I got the answer for the question, it stated that the lead nuclei reflect neutrons...