Question

How do nuclear reactors utilize chain reactions?

Answer 1

Nuclear reactors utilize chain reactions by taking the heat that is generated from the reaction,and using it to power people's homes.

The typical source that is used in a nuclear reactor is `U^235`, which absorbs a neutron to become `U^236`, which is unstable, so it splits, releasing energy in the form of heat, as well as two stable nuclei, such as barium-144 and krypton-89, which release a neutron to continue the chain as it strikes another `U^235` nucleus, causing that one to become unstable, and so on, until all the reactor''s fuel has been used up.