Enrico Fermi developed nuclear reactors in which year, enabling more tracers to be produced?

Enrico Fermi developed nuclear reactors in which year, enabling more tracers to be produced?

• A. 1931
• B. 1946
• C. 1950
• D. 1960

Answer: (B)

This question focuses on when nuclear reactors began to play a practical role in producing radioactive tracers. After the early breakthroughs that showed a sustained chain reaction in the early 1940s, the platform for producing isotopes in quantity for research and medical tracing began to solidify in the mid-1940s. By 1946, reactor facilities were increasingly used to irradiate targets and generate radioisotopes, making it feasible to produce more tracers for study. That timing is why 1946 is the best fit. The other years don’t align with this shift toward practical isotope production using reactors: 1931 is well before sustained reactor work; 1950 and 1960 are later milestones not tied to the initial enabling period.

This question focuses on when nuclear reactors began to play a practical role in producing radioactive tracers. After the early breakthroughs that showed a sustained chain reaction in the early 1940s, the platform for producing isotopes in quantity for research and medical tracing began to solidify in the mid-1940s. By 1946, reactor facilities were increasingly used to irradiate targets and generate radioisotopes, making it feasible to produce more tracers for study. That timing is why 1946 is the best fit. The other years don’t align with this shift toward practical isotope production using reactors: 1931 is well before sustained reactor work; 1950 and 1960 are later milestones not tied to the initial enabling period.