Enriched uranium is classified as material in which__________________?
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Answer: A. %age of U235 has been artificially in-creased
Explanation
Enriched uranium is defined as uranium in which the percentage of the U-235 fissile isotope has been artificially increased. Natural uranium contains less than one percent U-235, which is insufficient for sustaining light water reactor chain reactions. Isotopic separation facilities use gas centrifuge technology to concentrate the lighter U-235 isotope above natural abundance levels. Uranium occurs naturally as a mixture of three isotopes, predominantly non-fissile U-238 alongside trace amounts of fissile U-235. Fissile U-235 readily undergoes nuclear fission when struck by thermal neutrons, releasing tremendous amounts of binding energy. Enrichment percentage dictates whether uranium is suitable for commercial nuclear power generation or advanced research applications.
Option B is incorrect because total uranium quantity is not increased; only the specific fissile U-235 isotope ratio is raised. Option C is wrong because U-234 is a minor trace isotope that does not serve as the primary target for reactor enrichment. Options D and E are incorrect because enrichment involves physical isotope separation rather than pumping energy or removing impurities.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Mechanical Engineering
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- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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