nuclear reaction


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Related to nuclear reaction: nuclear fusion reaction

nuclear reaction

n.
A reaction, as in fission, fusion, or radioactive decay, that alters the energy, composition, or structure of an atomic nucleus.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nuclear reaction

n
(General Physics) a process in which the structure and energy content of an atomic nucleus are changed by interaction with another nucleus or particle
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

re•ac•tion

(riˈæk ʃən)

n.
1. action in response to some influence, event, etc.: the nation's reaction to the president's speech.
2.
a. a physiological response to an action or condition.
b. a physiological change indicating sensitivity to foreign matter: an allergic reaction.
3. an action in a reverse direction or manner.
4. a movement toward extreme political conservatism; a desire to return to an earlier system or order.
5.
a. the reciprocal action of chemical agents upon each other; chemical change.
b. a process that, unlike a chemical reaction, has the power to change the nucleus of an atom, as radioactive decay, fission, or the like.
6. Mech. the instantaneous response of a system to an applied force, manifested as the exertion of a force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to the applied force.
[1635–45; on the model of react]
re•ac′tion•al, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

nuclear reaction

A reaction, as in fission, fusion, or radioactive decay, that changes the energy or structure of an atomic nucleus. See more at fission, fusion.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.nuclear reaction - (physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei
natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"
chain reaction - a self-sustaining nuclear reaction; a series of nuclear fissions in which neutrons released by splitting one atom leads to the splitting of others
radioactive decay, disintegration, decay - the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
endoergic reaction - a nuclear reaction occurring with absorption of energy
exoergic reaction - a nuclear reaction accompanied by the evolution of energy
nuclear fission, fission - a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy
nuclear fusion, nuclear fusion reaction, fusion - a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy
natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"
spallation - (physics) a nuclear reaction in which a bombarded nucleus breaks up into many particles; "some astronomers believe that the solar system was formed by spallation when the sun was a very young star"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
To begin generating power, the reactors must be loaded with uranium pellets and these generate heat through a controlled nuclear reaction. This heat is transferred to water which creates steam to drive the turbines.
From September, the JRC will also make accessible several of its European facilities for nuclear reaction and decay data measurements in Geel.
Our nuclear reaction to UK's plans THE landscape from Slieve Gullion to the Mourne Mountains is one of the most beautiful in Ireland - but not for long if the British Government gets its way.
Furthermore, anything like a loss of power that shuts down the system stops the process, and the nuclear reaction fizzles almost immediately--there is no chance of a Fukushima-style runaway reaction.
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- About 99 percent of the sun's energy emitted as neutrinos is produced through nuclear reaction sequences initiated by proton-proton (pp) fusion in which hydrogen is converted into helium, say scientists.
Nasser Al-Mustafa, director of nuclear reaction department at ministry of electricity, said in a statement the two sides reviewed a report about infrastructure of Sudan's nuclear program, to be held in line with IAEA criteria.
He received his PhD in nuclear reaction theory in 1989 from the University of Surrey before taking up a SERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at UCL, subsequently returning to Surrey.
Among full papers are actinide targets for the synthesis of superheavy nuclei: current priorities and future opportunities, the spontaneous fission of superheavy nuclei, odd features of some odd-odd prolate spheroidal nuclei, a microscopic theory of fission, and a free-neutron target for nuclear reaction studies.
A team of researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have published a (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature24630) study , Wednesday, in the journal Nature, that has observations from the first nuclear reaction observed in the atmosphere caused by lightning during a storm.
The total nuclear reaction cross section ([[sigma].sub.R]) is one of the most important physical quantities in the heavy-ion collision.
The nuclear reaction cross sections are of considerable importance in optimizing the production process of a radioisotope.
SGs are integral to the conversion of nuclear fission's energy into electricity: the heat generated from the nuclear reaction turns water into steam, which is then used to spin a turbine and generate electricity.

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