Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN
Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity (roughly translated)
You were pointing out Ockhams Razor, This is otherwise paraphrased as "all other things being equal, the simplest answer is the best."
Nuclear reactions, as has already been mentioned, do not require a catalyst, as the very nature of any radioactive atom is to decay, and this decay leads to reactions in other atoms etc. etc. etc. Nuclear power plants control power and heat levels by raising and lowering the uranium rods into liquid vats... when raised, the uranium decays, and radiates heat in the process, generating power... when the rods get to a specific temperature, they are slowly lowered back into the liquid vats for cooling, and the process repeats....
Its pretty amazing stuff.. I was watching a doco on Discovery the other day, on the USS Ronald Regan (largest aircraft carrier in the US navy) and with its nuclear reactor, its able to run for 29 years straight without ever coming to port... 29 years... Brilliant technology in some hands, Terrifying in others...
|
Sorry Alex I missed this before.
I have been somewhat anti NP but I have developed an interest in it for interest sake so thanks for your input every bits helps.
alex