- #1
mat1101
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Homework Statement
on a test, i wrote neutrons for something that flows
(laminar)
On some occasions do they flow smoothly?
Smooth Flow of Neutrons: Investigating Laminar Behavior
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the behavior of neutrons in relation to laminar flow, specifically whether neutrons can flow smoothly through water or air. Participants explore the nature of neutrons as subatomic particles and their interactions with fluids, raising questions about the appropriateness of comparing neutrons to traditional fluid dynamics concepts.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant initially questions whether neutrons can flow smoothly, suggesting a potential misunderstanding of the term "flow" in relation to subatomic particles.
- Another participant emphasizes that fluids are typically liquids or gases, and expresses skepticism about neutrons behaving like a fluid.
- A later reply clarifies that neutrons do not flow like water and instead scatter off other nuclei, indicating that their behavior is more akin to diffusion rather than smooth flow.
- Participants discuss the interactions of neutrons with protons and other nuclei, noting that collisions can lead to various nuclear reactions.
- One participant likens the behavior of neutrons in a fluid to a bullet traveling through a forest, suggesting that neutrons do not exhibit continuous flow.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree that neutrons do not flow like traditional fluids such as water. However, there is no consensus on the initial question regarding the smoothness of neutron interactions with fluids, as the discussion remains unresolved regarding the applicability of fluid dynamics concepts to neutrons.
Contextual Notes
The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the definitions of flow and the behavior of subatomic particles, as well as the assumptions about neutron interactions with fluids.
on a test, i wrote neutrons for something that flows
(laminar)
On some occasions do they flow smoothly?
- #2
tiny-tim
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hi mat1101! 
hmm … things that flow are fluids, and I've never heard of neutrons behaving like a fluid
why didn't you just go for something like water?
and laminar flow "is the opposite of turbulent flow. In nonscientific terms laminar flow is "smooth," while turbulent flow is "rough."" … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminar_flow"
mat1101 said:
hmm … things that flow are fluids, and I've never heard of neutrons behaving like a fluid
why didn't you just go for something like water?
and laminar flow "is the opposite of turbulent flow. In nonscientific terms laminar flow is "smooth," while turbulent flow is "rough."" … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminar_flow"
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- #3
mat1101
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sorry i should have been more specific
Do neutrons flow through water smoothly?
Do neutrons flow through water smoothly?
- #4
Borek
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Are you sure you are talking about neutrons (subatomic particles) and flow (defined as motion of a gas or liquid)? Because, as tiny-tim already signaled, neutrons do not behave as liquids, so question - as posted - doesn't make sense.
- #5
mat1101
- 42
- 1
yes neutrons
and sorry
does water or air flow over them soomthly like this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stokes_sphere.svg
hope tis helps a little bit more
and sorry
does water or air flow over them soomthly like this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stokes_sphere.svg
hope tis helps a little bit more
- #6
Borek
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They are way too small for water or gas to behave as a smooth, continuous liquid. It is more like a bullet shot into the forest, it flies till it hits something solid.
- #7
Astronuc
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Neutrons don't flow like water. As others indicated, neutrons are subatomic particles, and in water they tend to scatter off other the nuclei, and considering that they are nearly the same mass a proton, they can lose nearly all their energy when colliding with a proton (if it the collision is straight on). So neutrons scatter off nuclei until they are absorbed by some nuclei.
A neutron will combine with a proton to form a deuteron, or a neutron will combine with O-16 to forum O-17 or O-17 to form O-18. If the neutron energy is high enough, it can even knock a proton out of a nucleus in an (n.p) reaction.
Neutrons as colliding particles collectively diffuse through water, and the diffusion is just a manifestion of the gradient of the concentration (population density) of neutrons in the water.
A neutron will combine with a proton to form a deuteron, or a neutron will combine with O-16 to forum O-17 or O-17 to form O-18. If the neutron energy is high enough, it can even knock a proton out of a nucleus in an (n.p) reaction.
Neutrons as colliding particles collectively diffuse through water, and the diffusion is just a manifestion of the gradient of the concentration (population density) of neutrons in the water.
- #8
mat1101
- 42
- 1
thanks!
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