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Nuclear chain reaction — Edexcel GCSE Physics Definition | GradeGen

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Physics
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Nuclear chain reaction

GCSE Physics · key term

Nuclear chain reaction

Definition

A sequence of nuclear fissions in which neutrons released by one fission cause further nuclei to split.

Used by Edexcel

How each exam board covers it

Edexcel GCSE Physics · 1PH0

Specification 6.39P · Paper 1

If one of those released neutrons is absorbed by another uranium-235 nucleus, that nucleus can split too. Its neutrons may then cause still more fissions. This continuing sequence is a nuclear chain reaction.
Revise: Chain Reaction Principle

Edexcel Physics past papers

Related key terms

Controlled chain reaction
Nuclear fission

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