Nuclear Meltdown (Noun)
Meaning
Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was a devastating nuclear meltdown that released radioactive materials into the environment and contaminated a large area.
- A nuclear meltdown occurs when the reactor's cooling system fails, causing the fuel rods to overheat and melt through the containment vessel.
- The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 was the most significant nuclear meltdown in US history, although it did not release a large amount of radiation into the atmosphere.
- The nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986 was the worst nuclear disaster in history, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment.
- The new nuclear reactor design includes multiple safety features to prevent a nuclear meltdown, including an advanced cooling system and reinforced containment walls.