Why Chernobyl Exploded - The Real Physics Behind The Reactor

[Asid]

Why Chernobyl Exploded - The Real Physics Behind The Reactor




Scott Manley
Published on 8 Jun 2019
With the TV show doing a great job at delivering its explanation in a manner that most people can easily understand, I felt I wanted to do a more detailed description. So I cover basic reactor physics, explain how the RBMK reactor works, how Xenon 135 works, Why the control rods included graphite tips, and why the reactor became unstable and ran away.

Many of the diagrams here are from https://www.nuclear-power.net and they have Lots more information on Nuclear Physics
https://www.nuclear-power.net

And of course I highly recommend the TV show:
https://www.hbo.com/chernobyl

[Skoop]

What's more compelling about reliving Chernobyl with the show...not the science but the complete sham that was the Soviet State and the disgusting cover up that followed.

The Soviets were going to put millions in the path of radiation exposure rather than admitting they F'd up.  Chernobyl was to me a symbol of the epic fail that was the Soviet Union...

[Rinix]

This is my favorite documentary on Chernobyl. The actors could serve as the stunt doubles for the real men: