Home▸Nuclear Physics▸Fission Chain Reaction Simulator (2D)

Fission Chain Reaction Simulator (2D)

Interactive 2D nuclear fission chain reaction simulator: a neutron splits a uranium-235 nucleus, releasing new neutrons that can strike neighbouring nuclei. Tune control rods, fuel density and neutron speed to see subcritical, critical and supercritical behaviour.

Nuclear Physics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version
2d-nuclear-energy-energy ↗ Open standalone

Nuclear fission releases roughly 200 MeV per event by splitting a heavy uranium-235 nucleus into two lighter fragments plus 2–3 new neutrons. This 2D top-down simulator visualizes the chain reaction those neutrons drive: fire a single seed neutron into a lattice of intact nuclei and watch each fission spawn fresh neutrons that fly outward, some absorbed by control rods, some escaping the core, and some striking a neighbouring nucleus to repeat the process. Adjust control-rod absorption, fuel density and neutron speed to move the reaction between subcritical (k<1, dies out), critical (k=1, self-sustaining) and supercritical (k>1, exponential growth) regimes — the same balance real reactors maintain with automated control rods.

⚙ Under the hood

Interactive 2D nuclear fission chain reaction simulator: launch a seed neutron into a grid of uranium-235 nuclei and tune control rods, fuel density and neutron speed to explore subcritical, critical and supercritical chain reactions.

Nuclear PhysicsFissionChain ReactionCriticalityReactor Physics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install

What did you find?

Add reproduction steps (optional)