See Also: critical mass(medicine)
critical mass(encyclopedia)
critical mass(dictionary)
critical(dictionary)
Critical(money)
critical(dictionary)
critical pH(medicine)
Critical(medicine)
critical rate(medicine)
critical pressure(medicine)

critical mass (sh)




Minimum amount of a given fissionable material necessary to achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction under specified conditions.

Critical mass depends on several factors, including the kind of fissionable material used, its concentration and purity, and the composition and geometry of the surrounding reaction system.