Thorium and Molten-Salt Reactors Quiz

What is one of the main reasons thorium is considered a promising nuclear fuel?

• It is more abundant than uranium.

• It is already widely used in reactors.

• It produces more waste than uranium.

• It is a fissile material.

How does thorium-232 become a usable nuclear fuel?

• It directly undergoes fission.

• It is heated to high temperatures.

• It is mixed with uranium-235.

• It absorbs a neutron and eventually becomes uranium-233.

What is a fertile material in the context of nuclear fuels?

• A material that can directly undergo fission.

• A material that can absorb a neutron and become fissile.

• A material that cannot be used in reactors.

• A material that is already fissile.

What is a key safety feature of molten-salt reactors?

• They use solid nuclear fuel.

• They produce a lot of plutonium.

• They have a freeze plug to prevent overheating.

• They operate at high pressures.

Why was the Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment at Oak Ridge discontinued?

• It was too expensive to maintain.

• It faced technical challenges and was not aligned with the main line of reactor development.

• It produced too much waste.

• It was a successful experiment with no issues.

What is one potential advantage of molten-salt reactors over conventional reactors?

• They have a higher risk of meltdown.

• They are more expensive to build.

• They generate less radioactive waste.

• They produce more plutonium.

What was a significant issue faced by the Oak Ridge Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment?

• It produced no radioactive by-products.

• It was too cheap to operate.

• It had trouble reaching its designed power level and faced material challenges.

• It operated smoothly without any shutdowns.

What is a potential benefit of using thorium in nuclear reactors?

• It can be used directly without any conversion.

• It is less abundant than uranium.

• It produces virtually no plutonium.

• It is a well-tested technology with no challenges.

Which country is planning to start a small molten-salt test reactor in the Gobi Desert?

• India

• United States

• China

• Russia

What is a major challenge in developing commercial thorium molten-salt reactors?

• The simplicity of the technology.

• The need for significant funding and infrastructure development.

• Lack of interest from the scientific community.

• The abundance of thorium.