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Archiver > NORWAY > 2002-02 > 1013636561


From: "Roger Camp" <>
Subject: RE: heroes of Telemark
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 14:51:18 -0700
In-Reply-To: <20020213.120647.-441455.0.bagoold@juno.com>


First of all, you have to know something about the structure of the atom.
In the nucleus of the atom are protons and neutrons. Regular hydrogen has
only a proton--no neutron. An isotope of hydrogen, called deuterium, has
both a proton and a neutron. This makes the atom of hydrogen twice as
heavy. As you know, water is H20. In heavy water almost all of the
hydrogens are deuterium. Consequently the mass of a molecule of heavy water
is greater than the mass of normal water.

One thing I've been trying to completely understand is how the heavy water
was to be used for nuclear fission. I've heard it was to be used as a
moderator for the fission. The United States didn't use the heavy water for
its atom bomb. And I don't think the German scientists were as close to
developing the atom bomb as we thought they were at first. But it took a
lot of bravery for the Norwegians to destroy the trainloads of heavy water
without totally understanding why they were doing it.

Hope my explanation didn't get too long.

Arlene from Arizona

-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara A Goold [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 1:07 PM
To:
Subject: Re: heroes of Telemark


What is the heavy water plant? I have heard this before and don't have a
clue what it means. I do believe it was near my ancestors homes. Barbara
Goold


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