Nuclear Power

What type of reaction is this?

• nuclear fallout

• nuclear fission

• nuclear fusion

• nuclear meltdown

An isotope is an alternative form of an element.

What distinguishing feature separates isotopes from the standard element?

• Isotopes are in a liquid state while the standard element is solid or gaseous.

• Isotopes have a different number of electrons than the standard element.

• Isotopes have a different number of neutrons than the standard element.

• Isotopes have a different number of protons than the standard element.

The sun uses nuclear fusion to generate its energy. In the very distant future, the sun will eventually run out of fuel.

How will this happen?

• All the hydrogen and smaller elements will eventually fuse into larger elements until fusion is no longer possible.

• All the flammable elements, like hydrogen, will combust resulting in no more available fuel.

• The sun will not run out of fuel since fusion continually creates more energy than is consumed.

• The sun will stop burning once all the atoms in the core have split.

What is the ultimate purpose of the nuclear reaction in a nuclear power plant?

• The reaction is used to create a magnetic field.

• The reaction is used to create temperatures high enough to generate steam.

• The reaction is used to create a high pressure system used to spin the turbine of the generator.

• The reaction is used to prevent chain reactions.

What would happen if a nuclear reactor was not pressurized?

• The water would boil at its normal boiling point. The energy in the nuclear reaction would not be used efficiently.

• The water would boil at its normal boiling point. The energy in the nuclear reaction would be used efficiently.

• The water would boil above its normal boiling point. The energy in the nuclear reaction would not be used efficiently.

• The water would boil below its normal boiling point. The energy in the nuclear reaction would not be used efficiently.

Which of the following contributed to the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl?

• water-damaged controls

• faulty power plant design

• a tsunami

• routine maintenance procedure gone wrong

Which of the following had the greatest effect on the health of citizens following the Chernobyl meltdown?

• the enormous amount of time it took to physically clean up the city

• the spread of radioactive contamination across Ukraine and neighboring parts of Europe

• the explosion that caused millions of dollars of damage to the facility

• the hundreds of people left jobless after the meltdown

True or False: The "exclusion zone" around Chernobyl is to keep civilians from accessing a government research facility.

• True

• False

How do control rods help maintain control of a nuclear reaction?

Explain the difference between a coal power plant and nuclear power plant.