File:Nuclear predetonation.svg

Diagram illustrating nuclear predetonation (fizzle) in a very-schematic gun-type setup. At the top, a piece of fissile material (i.e. enriched uranium) is accelerated towards another piece to create a critical mass. However, because the acceleration is too slow, stray neutrons caused by spontaneous fissioning cause the surfaces of the two pieces to begin to react before a full critical mass is formed (middle). Because of this, a small explosion results, destroying the containment apparatus and sending the bulk of the material, which did not fission, away from itself, preventing further nuclear reaction. This explosion would be much smaller than a full nuclear explosion and result in the dispersal of expensive nuclear material.

Created by User:Fastfission with Inkscape.

 

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This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Fastfission. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Fastfission grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

If you want to credit someone, credit "Wikimedia Commons." Otherwise don't credit anyone, that's fine by me. --Fastfission 15:13, 14 April 2008 (UTC)