critical mass
- the minimum amount of fissile material that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction under a given set of conditions
- the minimum amount or number required for something to happen, begin, etc.
See critical mass in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun- The smallest mass of a fissionable material that will sustain a nuclear chain reaction at a constant level.
- The amount of matter needed to generate sufficient gravitational force to halt the current expansion of the universe.
- An amount or level needed for a specific result or new action to occur: “The sudden national uproar over drugs and drug abuse has reached politically critical mass in Washington” (Tom Morganthau).
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