dennis@home wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...


8

Are you saying now that the earth has a nuclear reaction going on
at its centre, and that's the reason it's pretty warm down there?



Yes, and no, that's not the only reason. Not even the biggest
reason. Of course it has nuclear reactions going on down
there..where else would all the radon come from? and all the uranium
is still decaying whether we use it in reactors or not.

You do know that there is a difference between radioactive decay and
fission?

Actually, radioactive decay _is_ a form of nuclear fission.

However, it is not a nuclear 'reaction', which necessarily involves
bombardment with neutrons.

Nuclear reactions do not produce radon. Radon comes about as a result of
radioactive decay of naturally-occurring radium. It's existence therefore
is no indication at all of 'nuclear reactions going on down there'.