My understanding is they did not have pure enough graphite

to make a chain reaction occur, so they never proved the theory. The US did and hence the famous experiment at Chicago for the first ever fission pile. Graphite is used to slow down neutrons so they can be "absorbed" by the next atom and continue the chain reaction.

We had a nuclear test reactor at VT in the 70s that pretty much operated that way with graphite.

No, really.
[Post edited by `lag at 02/15/2017 8:24PM]

In response to this post by bourbonstreet

Posted: 02/15/2017 at 8:23PM

WW2 peeps: ... how close were hitler and the nazi S-heads to the A-bomb? -- bourbonstreet 02/15/2017 7:25PM

They were close to a dirty bomb, but not A bomb ** -- Monk of McBride 02/16/2017 12:15PM

But a dirty bomb is a bomb ** -- HokieDan95 02/16/2017 2:50PM

Found it interesting that the 3 big leaps in technology in WW2 were -- HokieDan95 02/16/2017 07:58AM

I would think that jet engines, radar and rockets would also contend ** -- Hokie in CT 02/16/2017 10:55AM

If Adolph had spent less time ranting about Himmler's electricity bill - -- PhotoHokieNC 02/16/2017 05:58AM

Luckily second in that race is total defeat ** -- HortHokie 02/15/2017 9:16PM

Very far away. Where the USA took two different paths -- ElbertoHokie 02/15/2017 8:59PM

Woulda been closer had they not spent time searching for the Ark in Tanis ** -- BB Hokie 02/15/2017 8:59PM

My understanding is they did not have pure enough graphite -- `lag 02/15/2017 8:23PM

Which is why nothing will ever be built on that patch of ground... -- Burruss Writer 02/16/2017 08:41AM

Not quite the party line (link). It was in the basement of Robeson. -- CTM VT 2K 02/16/2017 7:16PM

They didn't have enough lead in their pencils? ** -- PhotoHokieNC 02/16/2017 07:46AM

^^^^This is why I come here.... ** -- RTFC 02/16/2017 10:34AM

/** -- PhotoHokieNC 02/16/2017 07:45AM

Not close at all. Werner Heisenberg was either on the wrong path or... -- CTM VT 2K 02/15/2017 8:11PM

I guess he really didn't find his way 'til he started cooking Meth? ** -- Gobble Gobble 02/16/2017 08:31AM

Interestingly my wife's grandfather's parents were chemists executed for -- typed by ben 02/16/2017 07:10AM

Are you certain? ** -- HokieDan95 02/15/2017 8:28PM

Heavy Water was never going to lead to a bomb, at least not in that era. -- CTM VT 2K 02/15/2017 10:48PM

It just a bad joke ** -- HokieDan95 02/16/2017 06:31AM

About 5400 miles. ** -- Hokie360 02/15/2017 8:03PM

+1 ** -- TexasGobbler 02/15/2017 8:07PM

Thankfully we hit those research facilities hard! -- EDGEMAN 02/15/2017 8:00PM

The US Govt funding of the A-bomb program created -- ElbertoHokie 02/15/2017 9:01PM

Re: WW2 peeps: ... how close were hitler and the nazi S-heads to the A-bomb? -- DaveVT 02/15/2017 7:43PM

I just know they did hail mary move when they realized loss was imminent -- HokieDan95 02/15/2017 7:30PM

Didn't japan have a dirty bomb? touched one off in Korea, (testing) right? -- bourbonstreet 02/15/2017 7:43PM

They had plans to spread disease via bug by dropping bombs -- reestuart 02/16/2017 08:20AM

Didn't they have a plan to send firebombs to America using balloons? ** -- EDGEMAN 02/16/2017 09:37AM

They sent 9300 with very limited success...6 civilian causalities from 1 fr -- HokieDan95 02/16/2017 09:49AM

Hmmm i don't know. both could be true ** -- HokieDan95 02/15/2017 7:56PM

My understanding is they did not have pure enough graphite

Insert a Link

Tech Sideline is Presented By:

Our Sponsors