How Does Carbonara Pasta Keep For In The Fridge?

The Japanese events of recent days have suggested that I republish an old post I wrote for another blog. This is a very simplified contribution on the atom. Good reading.


To understand what we're talking about, you must begin with the technical considerations, boring but necessary, be patient. An atom consists of neutrons, protons and electrons. The atom has a nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons bound together, swirling around the nucleus and electrons. In short, every atom looks like a small solar system, with the central sun around the nucleus and the planets / electrons.

If by chance a stray neutrons (eg from cosmic rays) penetrate in the atom and the nucleus splits, it is called nuclear fission. The result of nuclear fission will be given by the dispersion of the particles making up the atom, plus a large amount of energy. Every atom that undergoes fission releases its particles, and if they encounter on their journey they split other atoms, these atoms, in turn, will free other particles that split other atoms and so on, is called a chain reaction, and reaction chain underlying the technology of the atomic bomb and nuclear power plants.

The secret of the atomic bomb is that not There is no secret, you will not be surprised, because it is the simple truth. Contrary to what one might think in fact, the nuclear reaction is a natural and spontaneous phenomenon , that is to occur does not need to be stimulated by the intervention of external anyone or anything, if anything, human intervention becomes need not to start the reaction itself, which, if launched, would be destructive. Let me explain: the nuclear reaction occurs statistically, and to start it is enough to put together a certain amount of fissile material (called so because it is subject to nuclear fission), when given this amount of material will be reached, there will at least statistically that a stray neutron will split the nucleus by initiating the reaction, that's all, nothing, is nature. If combined in one container the right amount of pure fissile material, you have built and set off an atomic bomb, okay? The moment in which to add the last piece of equipment that will make you reach the right number, the chain reaction will start and a billionth of a second you disappear along with everything around you within a dozen miles, greetings and kisses. Fortunately, this quantity, which is not for nothing is called critical mass, must be very precise and also varies depending on the types of material used, which are usually uranium or plutonium. The amount required for uranium is pretty high, rather than for plutonium is much less, in any event the specific critical masses of uranium and plutonium would never say them to you even under torture.

A nuclear power plant works just like an atomic bomb and exploits the phenomenon of nuclear fission, except that, thanks to a complex mechanical and chemical, the critical mass is never held constant, and the particles are slowed down and deviat so that the chain reaction is self producing food energy but without taking the size of an explosion. Greatly simplifying the argument, in essence, the uranium is placed in metal tubes, which in turn are immersed in a liquid that slows down the free particles. These tubes are moving toward and away from them so as to maintain the production of energy without reaching the explosive chain reaction. In practice, the destructive energy that an atomic bomb issue in a moment, a nuclear power plant releases it in a very long time, and without destroying anything.

Now if you ask me whether it is possible that a nuclear power plant may develop an atomic explosion like a bomb, my answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOT! In the nucleus of a plant, the fissile material has a shape and density that will not allow him to develop an explosive chain reaction. To have a nuclear bomb materials must be very pure, dense and compact, whereas the core of a central, as I said, is composed of small rods of fissile material in metal tubes stuck four feet long each. If the core melted, the metal of the metal bars would be based with the nucleus and other wastes and the density of the fissile material would not be sufficient to trigger the explosion. The fact remains, however, that uncontrolled fission disperse a huge amount of radiation that would be, yes, lethal, just as were those who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb, but not its effects.

(AUGH!)