Ch 13.3 Notes

What was the main purpose of President Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech in 1953?

• To announce a new space program

• To promote nuclear disarmament

• To build nuclear-powered electrical generators for clean energy

• To establish a new military alliance

How many nuclear reactors are currently in use worldwide according to the text?

• 104

• 440

• 300

• 520

What percentage of U.S. nuclear plants are more than 30 years old?

• 25%

• 50%

• 75%

• 100%

How many nuclear reactors are in the United States?

• 52

• 104

• 220

• 440

What process do uranium atoms undergo when struck by a high-energy neutron?

• Nuclear fusion

• Nuclear fission

• Radioactive decay

• Ionization

What is released during the nuclear fission of uranium atoms?

• Protons and electrons

• Energy and more neutrons

• Alpha particles

• Gamma rays

What type of reaction is caused by the release of energy and neutrons in nuclear fission?

• Endothermic reaction

• Exothermic reaction

• Chain reaction

• Combustion reaction

What is the primary function of the control rods in a pressurized water nuclear reactor?

• To absorb neutrons and regulate the fission reaction

• To generate electricity directly

• To cool down the reactor core

• To convert steam into water

What happens when the control rods in a nuclear reactor are raised?

• A chain reaction of nuclear fission occurs

• The reactor shuts down

• The water in the reactor core evaporates

• The reactor core cools down

What is the role of high-pressure, superheated water in a pressurized water nuclear reactor?

• To flow to a heat exchanger and generate steam

• To directly turn the turbine

• To cool the generator

• To condense steam back into water