CHERNOBYL AZ-5: Reactor Explosion

What type of reactor was primarily used at the Chernobyl power station?

• Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)

• Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)

• RBMK (Reaktor Bolshoy Moshchnosti Kanalnyy)

• Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)

What is the primary function of graphite in an RBMK nuclear reactor?

• To absorb excess heat from the reaction

• To moderate (slow down) the speed of neutrons

• To contain the fuel pellets

• To generate electricity directly

What was the design flaw in the Chernobyl control rods that contributed to the explosion?

• They were made entirely of boron, making them too slow

• The upper half was made of graphite, causing a power spike upon insertion

• The lower half was made of graphite, causing a momentary power spike upon initial insertion

• They were too short to fully absorb neutrons

What is 'xenon poisoning' in a nuclear reactor?

• A buildup of radioactive xenon isotopes that cause a reactor to overheat

• The accumulation of xenon gas, which acts as a powerful neutron absorber, making the reactor unstable

• A chemical reaction between xenon and the fuel pellets, reducing efficiency

• The release of xenon gas into the atmosphere, causing environmental damage

What was the reactor's power level one hour after it stalled, before the test?

• 1%

• 6%

• 22%

• 50%

What phenomenon occurred when the graphite displaced water during the insertion of control rods, leading to a temporary power surge?

• Negative void coefficient

• Xenon poisoning

• Positive void coefficient

• Neutron moderation

What type of explosion occurred at the Chernobyl reactor?

• An atomic bomb explosion

• A heat and gas explosion

• A chemical explosion

• A steam explosion followed by a nuclear detonation

What was the critical flaw of the AZ-5 emergency shutdown button in the RBMK reactor design?

• It was too slow to insert the control rods.

• It was designed to increase power instead of decrease it.

• It acted as a hidden detonator due to its design and the reactor's configuration.

• It only inserted a single control rod, which was insufficient.