Question

In a nuclear reactor, the ratio of number of fission produced by a given generation of neutrons to the number of fission of the preceding generation is known as

• A. quality factor
• B. nuclear reaction factor
• C. multiplication factor
• D. fission ratio
• E. response ratio

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The multiplication factor in a nuclear reactor refers to the ratio of the number of fissions produced by a given generation of neutrons to the number of fissions in the preceding generation. This factor helps in determining whether the reactor is subcritical, critical, or supercritical. If the multiplication factor is greater than 1, the reactor is supercritical (producing more fissions in each generation), and if it is less than 1, the reactor is subcritical (producing fewer fissions in each generation). When the multiplication factor is equal to 1, the reactor is in a critical state, meaning the number of fissions remains constant from generation to generation.

The correct option is (C) : multiplication factor

Answer 2

In a nuclear reactor, the multiplication factor (k) is defined as:  

\( k = \frac{\text{Number of fissions in current generation}}{\text{Number of fissions in previous generation}} \) 

This factor indicates how the chain reaction progresses:

• k = 1: Steady state (critical reactor)
• k > 1: Increasing reaction rate (supercritical)
• k < 1: Decreasing reaction rate (subcritical)

✅ Correct Answer: multiplication factor