What stops a nuclear bomb’s chain reaction?
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To put it politely, it disassembles itself. Nuclear chain reactions require what is known as a critical mass. Basically, there has to be a specific amount of fissile fuel in a specific volume for the chain to occur. Each reaction in the chain releases at least two particles as it’s final step, as well as energy. These released particles run into other particles, moving them slightly. Since this happens all throughout the critical mass, it expands as the chain progresses. Eventually, enough reactions and collisions have occured so there is no longer a critical mass of fuel.
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