Question

$P{u}^{239}$ and $U^{238}$ are respectively:

• A. fertile material, artificial fissile material
  
• B. artificial fissile material, fertile material
• C. both artificial fissile materials
• D. both fertile materials
  

Answer 1

The correct option is B artificial fissile material, fertile material

In nuclear engineering, fissile material is material capable of sustaining a nuclear fissionchain reaction. $P{u}^{239}$ is a n artificial fissile material. Fertile material is a material that, although not itself fissionable by thermal neutrons, can be converted into a fissile material by neutron absorption and subsequent nuclei conversions. $U^{238}$ is a fertile material which converts to fissile $P{u}^{239}$