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What happens when the amount of fissionable material exceeds the critical mass?
The chain reaction accelerates as more neutrons are generated with each round of reaction.
The chain reaction is not sustained and eventually stops.
The density of the reacting particles decreases, slowing the reaction.
The amount of material needed to establish a new critical mass increases.
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The first statement is correct.
If the amount of fissionable material exceeds the critical mass the assembly becomes supercritical: each fission produces on average more than one neutron that goes on to cause further fissions, so the chain reaction accelerates (grows exponentially). The other options are incorrect — exceeding critical mass makes the reaction self‑sustaining and increasing, not stop, and it does not decrease density or raise the required mass.
If the amount of fissionable material exceeds the critical mass the assembly becomes supercritical: each fission produces on average more than one neutron that goes on to cause further fissions, so the chain reaction accelerates (grows exponentially). The other options are incorrect — exceeding critical mass makes the reaction self‑sustaining and increasing, not stop, and it does not decrease density or raise the required mass.
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