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Answer the following.

The energy of the thermal neutrons required for the fission of nuclei is of the order of . However…

Physics20251 markShort answer
The energy of the thermal neutrons required for the fission of $^{235}\text{U}$ nuclei is of the order of $0.025\text{ eV}$. However, the neutrons produced in the fission of $^{235}\text{U}$ possess quite large energy as compared to the energy of thermal neutrons. As these neutrons escape the $^{235}\text{U}$ block without causing the fission of $^{235}\text{U}$ nuclei. Due to this, in a nuclear reactor, it is important that the energy of neutrons is absorbed, and some neutrons are also absorbed. Write the condition when $^{235}\text{U}$ is said to be of critical size.

Answer

Answer

Official answer key
If the number of neutrons produced per second is equal to the number of neutrons lost per second in the block.
Nuclei

From ISC 2025 Practice Physics, question 84(c).