Demon core

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/demon-core

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Demon core?6.2 kilograms (14 pounds)
2. What is the primary fissile material?Plutonium-239
3. What is the date of second accident?May 21, 1946
4. What was the Demon Core and why was it called that?The Demon Core was a 6.2‑kilogram sphere of plutonium that scientists used for experiments. It got the name "Demon" because two accidents caused it to go critical and release deadly radiation.
5. How did the Demon Core cause accidents at Los Alamos?Scientists were trying to see how close the core could get to a self‑sustaining reaction. A neutron‑reflective tamper accidentally made the core critical, releasing a burst of harmful radiation.

Critical Configuration: An arrangement of fissile material where a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction can occur.
Neutron-Reflective Tamper: A dense material surrounding fissile material that bounces escaping neutrons back into the core.
Ionizing Radiation: Radiation that has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and molecules, causing damage to living tissue.
Nuclear Proliferation: The spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials to countries or groups that do not already possess them.