Deck 30: Nuclear Power the Future of Fukushima

Question 1

How is a pressure water reactor different from a boiling water reactor?

A)In a pressure water reactor,the steam that turns the turbine is not exposed to radiation.
B)In a pressure water reactor,steam is produced in the reactor core itself.
C)In a pressure water reactor,only the turbine is exposed to radiation during electricity production.
D)In a boiling water reactor,the water heated by fuel rods is never exposed to the turbine.
E)In a boiling water reactor,steam is produced outside the reactor core.

Answer 1

In a pressure water reactor,the steam that turns the turbine is not exposed to radiation.

Question 2

An atom that spontaneously emits subatomic particles and/or energy is called ______________.

A)radioactive
B)isotopic
C)fissionary
D)fusionary

Answer 2

radioactive

Question 3

Why is U-235 used more in nuclear reactors than U-238 is?

A)U-235 is more abundant.
B)U-235 is cheaper to mine.
C)U-235 is more reactive.
D)U-235 has fewer externalities.
E)U-235 produces less harmful radiation.

Answer 3

U-235 is more reactive.

Question 4

While the number of ____ in the atom of an element is unique,the number of _______can vary.

A)neutrons,protons
B)neutrons,electrons
C)protons,neutrons
D)protons,electrons
E)electrons,protons

Question 5

Radioactive isotopes are important for producing electricity because ___________________.

A)they can be converted directly into electricity
B)electrons from the isotopes are separated and used for electricity
C)the heat from their fission is used to create steam,which is converted to electricity
D)All of these answer choices are correct.
E)None of these answer choices are correct.

Question 6

Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of _____________ but a different number of ______________.

A)neutrons; protons
B)protons; neutrons
C)protons; electrons
D)electrons; protons
E)neutrons; electrons

Question 7

Which of the following could be composed of 92 protons and 146 neutrons?

A)uranium-235
B)uranium-238
C)plutonium-241
D)plutonimum-236

Question 8

Refer to Infographic 2.Explain why the mining of uranium ore is hazardous for the miners.

Question 9

High cancer rates are observed in workers who mine U-235 because U-235 naturally decays into ________________.

A)radon
B)mercury
C)lead
D)carbon dioxide
E)carbon monoxide

Question 10

_____________________ is energy released when an atom is split or combines with another to form a new atom.

A)Nuclear decay
B)The half-life
C)Nuclear fusion
D)Nuclear energy

Question 11

Isotopes are named according to the number of ___________.

A)neutrons
B)protons
C)electrons
D)protons plus neutrons
E)protons plus electrons

Question 12

Refer to Infographic 2.The process of generating nuclear energy produces hazardous waste at every step.Speculate on the hazards of milling and enriching the uranium.

Question 13

What are the similarities and differences between uranium-238 and uranium-235?

Question 14

Nuclear power plants use ___________ to boil water and produce steam,which is then used to generate electricity.

A)heat
B)coal
C)oil
D)fossil fuels
E)petroleum

Question 15

The simplest form of matter that cannot be broken down by chemical means is a(n)___________.

A)element
B)isotope
C)atom
D)uranium isotope
E)helium element

Question 16

The mass number for an element is composed of which of the following?

A)electrons and protons
B)protons and neutrons
C)neutrons and electrons
D)protons
E)neutrons

Question 17

___________________ rods are used in a nuclear plant to absorb neutrons and regulate the speed of the fission chain reaction.

A)Fuel
B)Nuclear
C)Regulatory
D)Control
E)Mechanical

Question 18

Radioactive tailings are created in which step of the nuclear fuel production?

A)mining the ore
B)milling
C)enrichment
D)fuel production
E)decommissioning of the nuclear plant

Question 19

Atoms that have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus but the same number of protons are known as ___________________.

A)decay products
B)half-lives
C)isotopes
D)neutral

Question 20

Yellowcake is produced by which step of the nuclear fuel process?

A)mining
B)milling
C)enrichment
D)fuel rod assembly
E)disposal

Question 21

Refer to Infographic 3.Use the infographic to explain how a nuclear reaction happens.

Question 22

What is the process of nuclear fission?

Question 23

Which of the following is a high-energy photon?

A)alpha radiation
B)beta radiation
C)gamma radiation
D)both alpha and beta radiation

Question 24

Which of the following statements about nuclear fission is NOT true?

A)Nuclear fission splits the nucleus of an atom.
B)Nuclear fission releases energy.
C)Nuclear fission reactions depend on radioactive isotopes.
D)Nuclear fission does not produce any heat.

Question 25

During radioactive decay,radioactive isotopes can give off which of the following?

A)gamma radiation
B)heat
C)particles
D)gamma radiation,heat,and particles
E)both gamma radiation and heat

Question 26

What best describes alpha particles?

A)They have the greatest potential to cause serious health problems.
B)It takes thick concrete to stop them.
C)They can penetrate upper layers of skin.
D)They can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
E)They can be stopped by heavy clothing.

Question 27

A radioactive particle that has gone through 2 half-lives retains what percent of its parent material?

A)200
B)100
C)50
D)25
E)2

Question 28

Refer to the graphic below.Which of the following isotopes would you expect to find in the greatest amount throughout the universe?

A)uranium-238
B)thorium-234
C)protactinium-234
D)uranium-234
E)thorium-226

Question 29

A chain reaction is created in a nuclear plant when U-235 in the fuel rods is bombarded with _______________,causing the nucleus to become unstable and split.

A)neutrons
B)electrons
C)protons
D)electricity
E)water

Question 30

The time it takes for half of the radioactive isotopes in a sample to decay to a new form is known as its ___________________.

A)isotope
B)radioactivity
C)radioactive half-life
D)nuclear energy

Question 31

Which of the following is emitted during radioactive decay?

A)gamma radiation
B)heat
C)subatomic particles
D)energy
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 32

Refer to Infographic 4.Three types of radiation are given off by radioactive isotopes.Name each one,describe their penetration ability,and explain if and how they are hazardous to humans.

Question 33

___________________ is a nuclear reaction that occurs when a neutron strikes the nucleus of an atom and breaks it into two or more parts.

A)Nuclear fusion
B)Nuclear fission
C)Radioactive decay
D)Cold fusion
E)Cold fission

Question 34

Explain the process involved in producing energy in a fission reactor,starting with U-235 and ending with the production of electricity.Be sure to mention the words "fuel rods" and "control rods."

Question 35

Explain why nuclear power plants require a vast amount of water.

Question 36

Why is water valuable in the production of nuclear energy?

A)Water cools control rods.
B)Water produces steam.
C)Water prevents the reactor from overheating.
D)Water both produces steam and prevents the reactor from overheating.
E)Water both cools control rods and prevents the reactor from overheating.

Question 37

What are some safety precautions used in the production of nuclear energy?

Question 38

What is beta radiation?

A)ionizing particle radiation that consists of two protons and two neutrons
B)ionizing particle radiation that consists of electrons
C)ionizing high energy photons
D)ionizing particle radiation that consists of two protons,two neutrons,and two electrons
E)an electromagnetic wave

Question 39

Refer to the graphic below.Which of the following isotopes would be the safest to handle in the shortest period of time? (Radioactive isotopes are considered safe to handle after 10 half-lives.)

A)uranium-234
B)uranium-238
C)thorium-234
D)thorium-226
E)protactinium-234

Question 40

How do control rods regulate the rate of the nuclear reaction?

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the storage of high-level radioactive waste (HLRW)in the United States?

A)We do not have a reliable long-term storage site for these wastes.
B)We are running out of space in the short-term steel-lined pools the wastes are stored in.
C)The longest half-life of materials in the HLRW is about 2000 years.
D)Some sites are storing the waste in large steel casks.
E)Approximately 65,000 metric tons of HLRW are currently in storage in the United States.

Question 42

Which president was the first to talk about the benefits of nuclear energy instead of its horrors?

A)Truman
B)Roosevelt
C)Eisenhower
D)Carter
E)Nixon

Question 43

What were the steam explosions at Fukushima rated on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale?

A)Level 1 incident
B)Level 3 incident
C)Level 4 accident
D)Level 5 accident
E)Level 7 accident

Question 44

Spent fuel rods are one of the wastes associated with the production of nuclear energy.Spent fuel rods are classified as ________________.

A)LLRW (low-level radioactive waste)
B)MLRW (medium-level radioactive waste)
C)HLRW (high-level radioactive waste)
D)recoverable waste
E)insignificant waste

Question 45

Refer to the graphic below.Which of the following choices is a daughter atom of Thorium-226?

A)thorium-234
B)radium-226
C)uranium-234
D)protactinium-234

Question 46

Which of the following choices for an isotope represents the greatest production of daughter atoms?

A)1 half-life
B)2 half-lives
C)3 half-lives
D)4 half-lives
E)5 half-lives

Question 47

Disposal of radioactive waste from the generation of nuclear power is a controversial topic.Given what you know about radioactive decay,why would environmentalists be concerned about the generation of all this waste?

Question 48

Compared with coal-fired plants,nuclear power plants are more ____________________.

A)likely to release particulates and gases
B)susceptible to natural disasters
C)likely to explode
D)likely to pollute the water
E)likely to cause an enhanced greenhouse effect

Question 49

The first major nuclear accident was at ___________.

A)Chernobyl
B)Three Mile Island
C)Fukushima
D)Palo
E)There have been no major nuclear power plant accidents.

Question 50

Refer to Infographic 5.If the half-life of a certain radioactive isotope is 5 years and 100 atoms of parent material exist in the original sample,how many parent atoms will be present in the sample after 10 years?

A)100
B)75
C)50
D)25
E)0

Question 51

Where are spent fuel rods currently stored?

A)at long-term storage sites
B)in steel-lined pools
C)in Yucca Mountain,Nevada
D)underground in emptied magma chambers
E)in developing countries

Question 52

Nuclear energy is considered to be a clean energy because of all but which of the following?

A)Sulfur dioxide is not produced.
B)NO_x compounds are not released.
C)Much less CO₂ (therefore,fewer greenhouse gases)are released.
D)Particulates are not released.
E)Less hot water is produced than by conventional power plants.

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT one of the causes of the high expense involved in nuclear power production?

A)It costs about twice as much to build a nuclear power plant than it does to build one that utilizes fossil fuels.
B)Nuclear power plants last about 40 years.
C)Nuclear plants are expensive to decommission.
D)Nuclear fuel is three times as expensive as fossil fuels.
E)Nuclear plants are more expensive to maintain than conventional plants,partly because the disposal of the fuel is costly.

Question 54

Low-level radioactive waste ________________.

A)can usually be safely buried
B)has low amounts of radiation relative to its volume
C)includes clothing and tools exposed to radioactive material
D)is stored at three sites in the United States
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 55

The Chernobyl nuclear accident was caused by ___________.

A)an earthquake
B)a tsunami
C)human error
D)an electrical failure
E)a cooling malfunction

Question 56

Refer to the graphic below.Why is the progression of uranium-238 to the stable lead-206 such a concern?

A)There is no guarantee that the uranium-238 will progress in this manner,so it might become something even more dangerous.
B)The long length of time it takes for uranium-238 to become harmless means it is difficult to dispose of in a safe manner.
C)Uranium-238 is the quickest of the radioactive elements to decay; the others are even more dangerous.
D)Uranium-238 is the most reactive of the uranium isotopes and so is the most dangerous.
E)Uranium-238 is the least common of the uranium isotopes and so is the hardest to find.

Question 57

How can nuclear waste best be disposed of?

Question 58

Congress authorized a controversial,long-term storage facility,but construction was stopped after 15 years.What stopped the construction?

A)A better site was found.
B)An act of Congress stopped construction.
C)The local people protested and wouldn't allow construction to continue.
D)President Obama halted construction,though the problem and controversy remain.
E)A tsunami made the site unsuitable.

Question 59

One of the hazardous issues in producing electricity with nuclear fuel is the large quantity of water it requires.Which of the following is NOT one of the uses of water when producing electricity with nuclear fuel?

A)Without water,fuel rods will melt and release radon gas.
B)Water is needed to produce the steam to turn the turbines.
C)Without water,fuel rods will release radioactivity.
D)Fuel rods will get hot and react with the steam to produce explosive hydrogen gas.
E)Water is needed to keep the reactor from overheating.

Question 60

What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope,and how long is it?

Question 61

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions. [Graph created by Terri Matiella based on data from: https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/US-Nuclear-Power-Plants/State-Electricity-Generation-Fuel-Shares]
Approximately how much power does Alabama generate from nuclear energy?

A)39%
B)65%
C)less than 10%
D)28%
E)There is not enough data to tell.

Question 62

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions. [Graph created by Terri Matiella based on data from: https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/US-Nuclear-Power-Plants/State-Electricity-Generation-Fuel-Shares]
What is the correct order of the states from the GREATEST percent of electricity generated by nuclear power to the LEAST percent generated?

A)Texas,South Carolina,Alabama,Nebraska
B)South Carolina,Washington,Nebraska,Texas
C)South Carolina,Nebraska,Alabama,Texas
D)Washington,Nebraska,Alabama,South Carolina
E)Alabama,Nebraska,Texas,Washington

Question 63

Your neighbor leans over and tell you he is opposed to the idea,since the radiation from the plant will go through any material,and can lead to radiation sickness.Is he correct?

A)Yes,all types of radiation are strong enough to penetrate any material.
B)No,while gamma radiation can penetrate through most material,it can be stopped with lead or thick concrete.
C)No,only alpha radiation will cause radiation sickness.
D)Yes,since radioactive isotopes only produce one type of radiation.

Question 64

Explain how using uranium as a fuel to produce energy is an advantage as far as availability goes versus the availability of fossil fuels.

Question 65

Refer to Infographic 3.The Fukushima plant was a boiling water reactor.Why did this make preventing an explosion in the plant after the earthquake and tsunami more difficult? Would it have been easier if it had been a pressurized water reactor?

Question 66

Discuss the safety of living near a nuclear power plant relative to living near a coal-fired power plant.

Question 67

One of the community members says he heard nuclear power comes from a nuclear reaction where atoms are combined together.Is he correct?

A)Yes,this is how nuclear energy is produced.
B)No,nuclear energy is produced when atoms are split.
C)No,nuclear energy is produced with radiation from radioactive decay.

Question 68

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 69

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions. [Graph created by Terri Matiella based on data from: https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/US-Nuclear-Power-Plants/State-Electricity-Generation-Fuel-Shares]
Which state produces the greatest percent of its energy from renewable sources?

A)Texas
B)South Carolina
C)Alabama
D)Washington
E)Nebraska

Question 70

A cost and benefit analysis of all our energy resources must include which of the following?

A)environmental costs
B)monetary costs of kilowatt-hours
C)social costs
D)risk assessments
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 71

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions. [Graph created by Terri Matiella based on data from: https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/US-Nuclear-Power-Plants/State-Electricity-Generation-Fuel-Shares]
Which state leads in electricity generation by nuclear energy?

A)Texas
B)South Carolina
C)Alabama
D)Washington
E)Nebraska

Question 72

________________ provides the cleanest source of energy.

A)Coal
B)Oil
C)Oil shale
D)Natural gas
E)Nuclear

Question 73

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions. [Graph created by Terri Matiella based on data from: https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics/US-Nuclear-Power-Plants/State-Electricity-Generation-Fuel-Shares]
Which state produces the greatest percent of energy from fossil fuels and the least from nuclear energy?

A)Texas
B)South Carolina
C)Alabama
D)Washington
E)Nebraska

Question 74

Do you think nuclear energy should replace energy generated from fossil fuels? Make your argument by highlighting costs,electricity production,pollution and safety,and supplies.

Question 75

Another community member says she is worried about living near a nuclear power plant,since she heard they can cause people to get sick.She wants to know what benefits the plant would have.You speak up and tell her that ___________.

A)nuclear power produces hardly any air pollution-causing by-products like fossil fuels do
B)research shows living next to a coal-fired power plant is more dangerous than living next to a nuclear power plant
C)uranium ore is more abundant and produces more energy-rich fuel than fossil fuels do
D)You tell the community member all of these reasons,since they are all benefits.

Question 76

What is one criticism of nuclear energy-development projects?

A)They would upset the fossil fuel-based global economy.
B)Some methods of power generation create radioisotopes that can be used in weapons.
C)Power production cannot be increased or decreased to reflect demand.
D)Fuels used in nuclear power are not as energy rich as coal.