Deck 7: Nuclear

Question 1

In the following fission reaction, the atomic number and mass of nucleus Y are:

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Fission and fusion reactions have in common _______.

A) absorption of energy in the nuclear reaction
B) high temperature requirements
C) liberation of neutrons
D) loss of mass of products over reactants
E) gain in mass of products over reactants.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Exceedingly high temperatures are needed in a fusion reactor because _______.

A) electrostatic barriers must be overcome
B) the fuel must be ionized
C) combustion needs heat to occur
D) water must be boiled and pressurized.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The best way to reduce your radiation dose from a Co-60 gamma emitting source is to _______.

A) reduce the temperature of the source
B) move twice as far away
C) spend half the time near the source
D) double the thickness of wood between you and the source
E) nonsense! You cannot change the potential dose

Question 5

The reason a nuclear reactor will not explode like a bomb is because ________.

A) the uranium-235 enrichment is too low.
B) there is not enough uranium-238 present.
C) the cooling water will always take away the heat
D) there are control rods present
E) …nonsense! It can explode like a bomb in the event of a loss of coolant accident

Question 6

For the same energy, the most penetrating type of radiations in human tissue are ________.

A) alpha particles
B) beta particles
C) gamma rays

Question 7

If a light-weight stable nucleus has 12 neutrons, the atomic mass is expected to be about:
A )6
B)12
C)18
D)24
E)36 amu.

Question 8

The average radiation dose received from radon in the home is ________.

A) less than a dental x-ray dose.
B) comparable to that from a nuclear plant
C) very dependent upon local geology
D) larger in older homes

Question 9

The largest component of ionizing radiation the average American receives is from:

A) radon
B) cosmic rays
C) TV
D) medical x-rays
E) terrestrial sources

Question 10

The majority of the radiation emitted to the general public in the normal operation of a nuclear plant comes from the ________.

A) cooling water discharged to a lake or a river.
B) reactor core directly.
C) spent fuel rods stored on site.
D) fission fragment gases vented to the atmosphere.
E) low level wastes shipped from the plant

Question 11

The future disposal of high level radioactive waste will probably be done in the US in ________.

A) volcanic rock
B) deep seabed sediments
C) transmutation processes
D) concrete building, as proposed for West Valley, NY
E) containers at present nuclear power plant sites

Question 12

The two purposes of water in a reactor core are ______.

A) neutron absorber and heat transfer liquid
B) neutron moderator and heat transfer liquid
C) neutron moderator and neutron absorber
D) neutron absorber and lubricant
E) neutron moderator and radiation shield

Question 13

The Emergency Core Cooling System is used in the event of an accident to ________.

A) stop the fission reactions
B) reduce fuel rod temperatures
C) provide backup power to control rods
D) change the decay heat of the fuel pellets