Unit 3: Nuclear Reactions Review

Which statement best describes the role of nuclear reactions in energy production?

• Nuclear power plants rely on nuclear fission because of the high amount of energy released during the reaction.

• Nuclear power plants rely on nuclear fission because of the release of alpha particles during the reaction

• Nuclear power plants rely on nuclear fusion because of the high amount of energy absorbed during the reaction.

• Nuclear power plants rely on nuclear fusion because of the use of gamma rays to induce the reaction.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

To discover if a cancer has metastasized, an oncologist might request a Positron-emission tomography (PET) scan be performed by a radiologist. The PET scanner detects gamma radiation emitting from a chemical injected into the patient.

Based on the information above, what type of reaction is occurring when a PET scanner is used?

• Decomposition 

• Fission 

• Fusion 

• Synthesis

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What types of reactions will produce radiation? 

• Fission reactions only 

• Fusion reactions only 

• Both fission and fusion reactions 

• Neither fission nor fusion reactions 

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is a fusion reaction? 

• The process of splitting the nucleus of an atom 

• The process of combining nuclei to form a larger nucleus 

• The process of changing the physical arrangement of particles 

• The process of combining atoms together into a molecule 

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is a fission reaction? 

• The process of splitting the nucleus of an atom 

• The process of combining nuclei to form a larger nucleus 

• The process of changing the physical arrangement of particles 

• The process of combining atoms together into a molecule 

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How does a nuclear reactor produce energy? 

• Atoms, such as uranium, undergo fusion in a reactor. This generates heat which turns water to steam in a turbine which generates electricity. 

• Atoms, such as uranium, undergo fission in a reactor. This generates heat which turns water to steam in a turbine which generates electricity. 

• Atoms, such as uranium, burn in a reactor. This generates heat which turns water to steam in a turbine which generates electricity.  

• We do not currently have the technology to harness nuclear reactions to generate electricity.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Fast neutron therapy is used in modern medicine to treat cancer that is resistant to other methods of treatment.  To produce the neutrons needed for fast neutron therapy, a stream of protons is accelerated towards a mass of beryllium.  This causes the beryllium atoms to release neutrons from their nuclei. 

The methods used to perform fast neutron therapy are an example of which type of reaction?

• Synthesis

• Fusion

• Decomposition

• Fission

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Researchers have attempted to combine the nuclei of multiple atoms to generate large amounts of energy. To date, researchers have not been able to perform this process without using more energy than is generated by the reaction.

Which type of reaction are the researchers seeking to achieve?

• Synthesis

• Fusion

• Decomposition

• Fission

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Scientists have continuously been searching for ways to create a system for energy production through fusion reactions but have been unsuccessful. Which of the following explains why it is still not a practical source of power?

• Fusion can create a huge amount of energy with very little fuel. 

• Fusion radioactive byproducts have a shorter half-life than fission byproducts. 

• Fusion requires a large amount of energy to force atoms to initially fuse together. 

• Fusion reactions have virtually little to no risk of nuclear accidents. 

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Carbon dating is a process where scientists evaluate the percentage of Carbon-14 atoms that have decayed to Carbon-12. The process of changing from Carbon-14 to Carbon-12 involves the atoms losing two neutrons.What type of reaction occurs when Carbon-14 changes to Carbon-12?

• Decomposition 

•  Single replacement 

• Fusion 

• Fission 

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8