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WorksheetsUnderstanding Check: Nuclear Energy
Total questions: 12
Worksheet time: 11mins
The process of combining the nucleus of atoms to make different atoms is called
(a) .
Breaking up the nucleus of a big atom is called (b) .
The process of (a) occurs spontaneously as a type of nuclear (b) reaction, but this is rare, slow and only happens with very (c) atoms.
A second kind of nuclear fission reaction occurs when a big atom (a) .
Which of the following correctly display nuclear fusion?
Have a guess:
If you put the reactants and products of a nuclear reaction on a tiny balance, which one would have more mass?
(The picture is of a nuclear fusion reaction.)
The reactants would have more mass.
The products would have more mass.
The reactants and products should have the same mass.
Which is NOT an advantage of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission for producing energy?
No long-term radiation waste to manage.
Its fuel is abundant.
Meltdowns are impossible.
It can create much more energy than burning coal or gas, and nuclear fission.
It is a much easier way to produce energy than nuclear fission.
Can you guess where fusion occurs?
(Hint: It's natural.)
Most current nuclear power plants
All around us
In radioactive waste
In the sun
In nuclear bombs
In your own words, how does nuclear fusion work to release energy?
Calculate the amount of energy (in Joules) that you could get (in theory) from converting a mass of 0.5mg (mass of 1 hair).
Why are elements such as hydrogen (1H) and helium (2He) used for nuclear fusion?
These elements are small.
They have weaker positively charged nucleus.
They are mostly easily able to overcome the natural repulsion to each other.
Why is it so easy for the sun to create nuclear fusion but so hard on earth?
Extreme gravity of the sun creates high speed/pressure needed for hydrogen and helium to fuse naturally.
On earth, we have to put in a lot of energy to start.
Now, on earth, the needed energy input is bigger than (>) the energy output.
What are six limitations of this breakthrough that makes it not practical for producing a lot of energy?
The current calculation of input energy doesn't even include the energy to power up the laser.
There is not enough tritium fuel (31H) that can be found naturally.
We don't yet know how to get tritium as a byproduct of the fusion reaction.
Fuel hydrogen, isn’t burning effectively.
The lasers are not efficient at turning electricity into light energy.
