Question 1

When a nucleus of U-238 absorbs a neutron and becomes U-239, a beta emission, then another beta emission results in

Accepted Answer

A) Th-239. 
B) Pa-239. 
C) U-235. 
D) Pu-239. 
E) Pb-206. 
A) Th-239. 
B) Pa-239. 
C) U-235. 
D) Pu-239. 
E) Pb-206.

Question 2

The idea in fission-bomb design is to

Accepted Answer

A) form a supercritical mass from one or more subcritical masses. 
B) bring neutrons and subcritical uranium together. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these 
A) form a supercritical mass from one or more subcritical masses. 
B) bring neutrons and subcritical uranium together. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these

Question 3

A neutron bouncing off a heavy nucleus loses speed. If it instead bounces off a light nucleus it loses

Accepted Answer

A) less speed. 
B) more speed. 
C) the same amount of speed. 
A) less speed. 
B) more speed. 
C) the same amount of speed.

Question 4

Relative to a fossil-fuel plant, a nuclear power plant produces

Accepted Answer

A) more electricity. 
B) less heat and smoke. 
C) less pollution. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) more electricity. 
B) less heat and smoke. 
C) less pollution. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 5

The conversion of mass to energy of other forms via nuclear fission is

Accepted Answer

A) less than 1%. 
B) about 10%. 
C) about 20%. 
D) about 30%. 
E) more than 30%. 
A) less than 1%. 
B) about 10%. 
C) about 20%. 
D) about 30%. 
E) more than 30%.

Question 6

Energy released by the Sun results from the process wherein atomic nuclei

Accepted Answer

A) break apart. 
B) combine. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these 
A) break apart. 
B) combine. 
C) both of these 
D) neither of these

Question 7

Which will leak more neutrons?

Accepted Answer

A) two separate lumps of uranium. 
B) the same two lumps stuck together. 
C) both the same 
A) two separate lumps of uranium. 
B) the same two lumps stuck together. 
C) both the same

Question 8

Fissioning a lead nucleus would yield a net

Accepted Answer

A) absorption of energy. 
B) release of energy. 
C) neither of these 
A) absorption of energy. 
B) release of energy. 
C) neither of these

Question 9

The balance between electrical and nuclear strong forces is more tenuous in

Accepted Answer

A) light elements. 
B) middle size elements like iron. 
C) heavier elements. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) light elements. 
B) middle size elements like iron. 
C) heavier elements. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 10

The energy output of a typical nuclear reactor is via

Accepted Answer

A) heating water to form steam. 
B) directing steam to a turbine. 
C) spinning a turbine to generate electricity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) heating water to form steam. 
B) directing steam to a turbine. 
C) spinning a turbine to generate electricity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 11

Compared with the mass of a uranium nucleus before splitting, the split fragments have

Accepted Answer

A) less mass. 
B) the same mass. 
C) more mass. 
A) less mass. 
B) the same mass. 
C) more mass.

Question 12

Carbon was used in Fermi's first nuclear reactor to

Accepted Answer

A) slow neutrons. 
B) increase the speed of neutrons. 
C) absorb neutrons. 
D) none of the above 
A) slow neutrons. 
B) increase the speed of neutrons. 
C) absorb neutrons. 
D) none of the above

Question 13

A neutron will more likely slow in speed if it bounces from a

Accepted Answer

A) light-weight nucleus. 
B) nucleus of moderate mass. 
C) heavy nucleus. 
D) none of the above 
A) light-weight nucleus. 
B) nucleus of moderate mass. 
C) heavy nucleus. 
D) none of the above

Question 14

When two pieces of fissionable material are assembled, the average distance that a neutron travels before escaping will

Accepted Answer

A) decrease. 
B) increase. 
C) be the same. 
A) decrease. 
B) increase. 
C) be the same.

Question 15

The water that operates a fission-reactor turbine is

Accepted Answer

A) not the same water that flows through the reactor. 
B) heated to high-pressure steam. 
C) without radioactivity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) not the same water that flows through the reactor. 
B) heated to high-pressure steam. 
C) without radioactivity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 16

The disadvantages to fission power plants include

Accepted Answer

A) radioactive waste disposal. 
B) production of plutonium for possible weapons proliferation. 
C) risk of accidental release of radioactivity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) radioactive waste disposal. 
B) production of plutonium for possible weapons proliferation. 
C) risk of accidental release of radioactivity. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 17

In the fissioning of uranium, a chain reaction is caused by

Accepted Answer

A) the kinetic energy of the decay products. 
B) ejected neutrons. 
C) alpha particles. 
D) none of the above 
A) the kinetic energy of the decay products. 
B) ejected neutrons. 
C) alpha particles. 
D) none of the above

Question 18

Various singly-ionized atomic nuclei of the same speed are directed into a magnetic field in a mass spectrometer where they are deflected and strike a detecting screen. The particles most strongly deflected are those of

Accepted Answer

A) least mass. 
B) greatest mass. 
C) same for all 
A) least mass. 
B) greatest mass. 
C) same for all

Question 19

Which of these nuclei has the least mass?

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen 
B) iron 
C) lead 
D) uranium 
E) all the same 
A) hydrogen 
B) iron 
C) lead 
D) uranium 
E) all the same

Question 20

A nucleon has more mass on average when it is

Accepted Answer

A) inside the nucleus. 
B) removed from the nucleus. 
C) both the same 
A) inside the nucleus. 
B) removed from the nucleus. 
C) both the same

Exam 34: Nuclear Fission and Fusion

When a nucleus of U-238 absorbs a neutron and becomes U-239, a beta emission, then another beta emission results in

The idea in fission-bomb design is to

A neutron bouncing off a heavy nucleus loses speed. If it instead bounces off a light nucleus it loses

Relative to a fossil-fuel plant, a nuclear power plant produces

The conversion of mass to energy of other forms via nuclear fission is

Energy released by the Sun results from the process wherein atomic nuclei

Which will leak more neutrons?

Fissioning a lead nucleus would yield a net

The balance between electrical and nuclear strong forces is more tenuous in

The energy output of a typical nuclear reactor is via

Compared with the mass of a uranium nucleus before splitting, the split fragments have

Carbon was used in Fermi's first nuclear reactor to

A neutron will more likely slow in speed if it bounces from a

When two pieces of fissionable material are assembled, the average distance that a neutron travels before escaping will

The water that operates a fission-reactor turbine is

The disadvantages to fission power plants include

In the fissioning of uranium, a chain reaction is caused by

Various singly-ionized atomic nuclei of the same speed are directed into a magnetic field in a mass spectrometer where they are deflected and strike a detecting screen. The particles most strongly deflected are those of

Which of these nuclei has the least mass?

A nucleon has more mass on average when it is

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