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critical
critical critical mass originally, the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction. In extended usage, the minimum size or amount of resources required to start or maintain a venture.
critical path the sequence of stages determining the minimum time needed for an operation, especially when analysed on a computer for a large organization. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "critical." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "critical." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-critical.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "critical." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-critical.html |
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critical mass
crit·i·cal mass • n. Physics the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction. ∎ fig. the minimum size or amount of something required to start or maintain a venture: a communication system is of no value unless there is a critical mass of users. |
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"critical mass." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "critical mass." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-criticalmass.html "critical mass." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-criticalmass.html |
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critical mass
critical mass Minimum mass of fissionable material required in a fission bomb or nuclear reactor to sustain a chain reaction. The fissionable material of a fission bomb divides into portions less than the critical mass; when brought together at the moment of detonation they exceed the critical mass. See also fission
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"critical mass." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "critical mass." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-criticalmass.html "critical mass." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-criticalmass.html |
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critical mass
critical mass for nuclear weapons, the minimum amount of fissionable material capable of supporting a chain reaction under precisely specified conditions.
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"critical mass." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "critical mass." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-criticalmass.html "critical mass." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-criticalmass.html |
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critical mass
critical mass see chain reaction . |
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Cite this article
"critical mass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "critical mass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-criticl-m.html "critical mass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-criticl-m.html |
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