Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 34 - Think and Explain - Page 654-655: 42

Answer

No.

Work Step by Step

The pancake shape has more surface area, and a neutron is closer to the surface, on average. This increases the chance that the neutron will escape before it initiates another fission event. The excessive neutron leakage stops the pancake of uranium from going critical.
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