Since the ground in for example chernobyl is radioactive, does that mean that the fission cycle continues in the ground? Which materials then? Ordinary dirt? Wouldn't that cause extreme heat in the location? Chernobyl should be like 10 degrees hotter then the rest of ukraina then?
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If the reactor was built properly, no radioactive material should escape the containment building.
Chernobyl was not constructed properly. When they lost control of the core, it caused the very floor of the reactor building to melt along with the core!
Radioactive contamination does not mean fission is occurring, since not all atoms split apart as easily as, say, uranium. They can, however, become more radioactive by absorbing neutrons, causing them to give off gamma rays which is the stuff that causes all the scary damage we associate with radiation. Yes, anything can be made radioactive - water, dirt, clothing, air... Fortunately most material does not retain the high amounts of energy needed to remain radioactive for very long. The time it takes for a particular element's radiation to decrease by half is called its half life. The problem with higher radioactive materials, like uranium, is that their half life is measured in centuries, as compared to, say, nitrogen, whose isotopes' half life is measured in minutes, or microseconds. Other elements like the stuff that makes up the rocks and dirt in the area, etc.) fall somewhere in between.
Chernobyl was not constructed properly. When they lost control of the core, it caused the very floor of the reactor building to melt along with the core!
Radioactive contamination does not mean fission is occurring, since not all atoms split apart as easily as, say, uranium. They can, however, become more radioactive by absorbing neutrons, causing them to give off gamma rays which is the stuff that causes all the scary damage we associate with radiation. Yes, anything can be made radioactive - water, dirt, clothing, air... Fortunately most material does not retain the high amounts of energy needed to remain radioactive for very long. The time it takes for a particular element's radiation to decrease by half is called its half life. The problem with higher radioactive materials, like uranium, is that their half life is measured in centuries, as compared to, say, nitrogen, whose isotopes' half life is measured in minutes, or microseconds. Other elements like the stuff that makes up the rocks and dirt in the area, etc.) fall somewhere in between.
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The radioactive process is one of slow decay, & that releases it's energy. When a reactor goes 'wild' & melts-down, the limits the containment systems put on the rate of decay are removed & the radioactive materials themselves melt down. The heat released is tremendous. So far, knock on wood, the few melt-downs have not been allowed to continue, & the limiting factors have been reinstated & the decaying process slowed. The decay will continue, in isolation, for millions of years, but the containment limits the rate, & that limits the heat release. IF allowed to actually melt thru the bottom of the containment & into the earth, it would melt the dirt & form glass, which could naturally slow the decay.. Nobody is exactly sure what would happen, & all hope we'll never find out ...