Rethinking Nuclear Power Reading Quest

How is electricity generated at a nuclear power plant similar to a coal power plant?

• Both use wind to turn turbines.

• Both use water heated into steam to turn a turbine connected to a generator.

• Both use solar panels to generate electricity.

• Both use natural gas as the primary fuel source.

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NGSS.HS-PS3-4

What is the key difference between a coal power plant and a nuclear power plant?

• A coal power plant uses uranium, while a nuclear power plant uses coal.

• A coal power plant generates more greenhouse gases.

• A nuclear power plant uses fission to generate energy, while a coal power plant does not.

• A nuclear power plant generates more energy with less fuel.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is a major environmental concern associated with coal power plants that is not a concern with nuclear power plants?

• Release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Radioactivity.

• The need for large amounts of water.

• The production of electrical energy.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

What is one of the drawbacks of nuclear energy mentioned in the text?

• It releases a lot of carbon dioxide.

• It requires a constant supply of sunlight.

• It produces large amounts of a type of radioactivity that can be harmful to life.

• It is less efficient than other forms of energy production.

How long can spent fuel from a nuclear reactor remain radioactive?

• A few years.

• Hundreds of years.

• Hundreds of thousands of years.

• It is not radioactive.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is a potential environmental risk if spent nuclear fuel is not disposed of properly?

• It can increase the risk of solar flares.

• It can contaminate groundwater.

• It can cause air pollution.

• It can lead to deforestation.

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Why do people disagree about the use of nuclear power/energy?

• Because it is too expensive

• Due to the potential risks and benefits involved

• Because it is not a renewable resource

• Because it produces a lot of greenhouse gases

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

What makes nuclear energy such a 'complicated story?'

• It is difficult to understand how nuclear energy works

• It has both significant benefits and serious risks

• It is a new technology that people are not familiar with

• It is not supported by any government

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How do the byproducts of nuclear energy compare to the byproducts of burning fossil fuels?

• They are more harmful to the environment

• They are less harmful to the environment

• They are exactly the same

• Nuclear energy does not have any byproducts

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

How does nuclear energy work?

• By burning coal to produce electricity

• By using wind turbines to generate power

• By splitting atoms to release energy

• By capturing solar energy through panels

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8