Fission Reaction: How Many Neutrons Needed for Chain Reaction?

[gurumi]

a certain fission reaction releases 3 neutrons.

how many of these neutrons must go on to produce a subsequent fission if a chain reaction is to be sustained?

 

[Nugatory]

What do you think and why?

 

[davenn]

is this homework ? looks like it

how about posting in the homework section and use the proper template
and show us what you have discovered so far in your research on the subject Dave

 

[DaveC49]

To sustain a chain reaction each individual reaction must produce at least one more reaction so at least one of the three neutrons released in a reaction must result in another fission reaction for the reaction to be sustained. The released neutrons will normally be highly energetic fast neutrons and at least for fissionable materials with high cross-sections for thermal neutrons, the energy of the neutrons must be reduced to thermal energies before a fission reaction is likely to take place.