<Control rods> absorb <neutrons>. Changing their insertion changes the <neutron> balance and hence reactor <reactivity>; sufficiently strong insertion makes the chain reaction subcritical. They provide control and shutdown functions. Continued decay <heat> means that shutdown does not remove the need for cooling.

Solution

Past exam of the materials science course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / Paper 1 / 6 / a / iii / Solution

 Solution (source code)