Technical Knowledge and Skills

DOE-STD-3015-2004

listing of supporting knowledge and/or skill statements. The supporting knowledge and/or skill

statements are not requirements and need not be fulfilled to meet the intent of the competency.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: When DOE directives are referenced, the most recent revision should be used.

NESSG chairs and other members must have knowledge of the physics of nuclear

weapons and explosives.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Define the following terms:

Excitation energy

Critical energy

Fissile material

Fissionable material

Fertile material

b. Describe the curve of binding energy per nucleon vs. mass number and give a qualitative

description of the reasons for its shape.

c. Explain why only the heaviest nuclei are easily fissioned.

d. Explain why uranium-235 fissions with thermal neutrons and uranium-238 fissions only

with fast neutrons.

e. Discuss the effects and applications of the following factors relevant to criticality safety

of operations:

Mass

Shape

Separation

Geometry

Moderation

Reflection

Concentration

Volume

Density

Neutron absorbers

Heterogeneity

Enrichment

f. Discuss the influence of the presence of non-fissionable materials in contact with

fissionable material on nuclear criticality safety.

g. Discuss the following processes and their application in nuclear explosive design:

Nuclear fission

A-7