Three Mile Island Incident Analysis

The Three Mile Island accident, the largest nuclear incident in U.S. history, occurred on May 28, 1979. Despite being smaller than Fukushima or Chernobyl, it highlighted how minor errors can lead to major disasters. The plant faced construction delays and operational issues, leading to a series of failures on March 28, 1979. A stuck valve and human errors caused the reactor core to overheat and partially melt down. Although no health effects were reported, the incident prompted changes in nuclear safety protocols. The cleanup took 14 years, and the plant's unit 1 was shut down in 2019 due to financial reasons.

What was the main reason for the construction delays of the TMI-2 reactor?

• Lack of funding

• Weather conditions

• Technical issues and delays

• Labor strikes

What was the initial cause of the Three Mile Island incident?

• A pump failure in the reactor's steam generator

• A cyber attack

• A fire in the control room

• An earthquake

What was the main human error that contributed to the meltdown?

• Operators fell asleep

• Failure to follow safety protocols

• Incorrect valve operation after testing

• Miscommunication between teams

What was the critical mistake made by the control room operators during the meltdown?

• They ignored the alarm systems

• They evacuated the plant too early

• They shut down the water flow to the reactor

• They increased the reactor's power

What was the immediate action taken by the operators once they realized the reactor core was melting?

• They increased the reactor's power

• They evacuated the plant

• They called for external help

• They manually closed the stuck valve and turned the water back on

How long did it take for officials to inform the public about the potential danger after the incident?

• Two days

• One day

• A week

• Immediately

What was the main reason for the delayed evacuation order?

• Technical difficulties

• Underestimation of the situation

• Lack of communication

• Weather conditions

What was the outcome for the TMI-2 reactor after the incident?

• It was sold to another company

• It was converted into a museum

• It was permanently shut down

• It was repaired and restarted

Why was the TMI-1 reactor eventually shut down in 2019?

• Financial unviability

• Public protests

• Government mandate

• Technical failures

What was one of the long-term impacts of the Three Mile Island accident?

• No significant changes

• Stricter nuclear regulations

• Increased nuclear power usage

• Immediate shutdown of all US nuclear plants