Question 1

The function of the control rods in a nuclear reactor is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  increase fission by slowing down the neutrons 
B)  decrease the energy of the neutrons without absorbing them 
C)  increase the ability of the neutrons to cause fission 
D)  decrease fission by absorbing neutrons 
E)  provide the critical mass for the fission reaction 
A)  increase fission by slowing down the neutrons 
B)  decrease the energy of the neutrons without absorbing them 
C)  increase the ability of the neutrons to cause fission 
D)  decrease fission by absorbing neutrons 
E)  provide the critical mass for the fission reaction

Question 2

In the normal operation of a nuclear reactor:

Accepted Answer

A)  control rods are adjusted so the reactor is subcritical 
B)  control rods are adjusted so the reactor is critical 
C)  the moderating fluid is drained 
D)  the moderating fluid is continually recycled 
E)  none of the above 
A)  control rods are adjusted so the reactor is subcritical 
B)  control rods are adjusted so the reactor is critical 
C)  the moderating fluid is drained 
D)  the moderating fluid is continually recycled 
E)  none of the above

Question 3

Which one of the following is NOT needed in a nuclear fission reactor?

Accepted Answer

A)  Moderator 
B)  Fuel 
C)  Coolant 
D)  Control device 
E)  Accelerator 
A)  Moderator 
B)  Fuel 
C)  Coolant 
D)  Control device 
E)  Accelerator

Question 4

Compared to fusion in a tokamak, laser fusion makes use of:

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller particle number densities 
B)  greater particle number densities 
C)  longer confinement times 
D)  higher temperatures 
E)  lower temperatures 
A)  smaller particle number densities 
B)  greater particle number densities 
C)  longer confinement times 
D)  higher temperatures 
E)  lower temperatures

Question 5

Consider all possible fission events. Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Light initial fragments have more protons than neutrons and heavy initial fragments have fewer protons than neutrons 
B)  Heavy initial fragments have more protons than neutrons and light initial fragments have fewer protons than neutrons 
C)  All initial fragments have more protons than neutrons 
D)  All initial fragments have about the same number of protons and neutrons 
E)  All initial fragments have more neutrons than protons 
A)  Light initial fragments have more protons than neutrons and heavy initial fragments have fewer protons than neutrons 
B)  Heavy initial fragments have more protons than neutrons and light initial fragments have fewer protons than neutrons 
C)  All initial fragments have more protons than neutrons 
D)  All initial fragments have about the same number of protons and neutrons 
E)  All initial fragments have more neutrons than protons

Question 6

The energy supplied by a thermal neutron in a fission event is essentially its:

Accepted Answer

A)  excitation energy 
B)  binding energy 
C)  kinetic energy 
D)  rest energy 
E)  electric potential energy 
A)  excitation energy 
B)  binding energy 
C)  kinetic energy 
D)  rest energy 
E)  electric potential energy

Question 7

The binding energy per nucleon:

Accepted Answer

A)  increases for all fission events 
B)  increases for some, but not all, fusion events 
C)  decreases for all fusion events 
D)  decreases for some, but not all, fission events 
E)  remains the same for all fusion events 
A)  increases for all fission events 
B)  increases for some, but not all, fusion events 
C)  decreases for all fusion events 
D)  decreases for some, but not all, fission events 
E)  remains the same for all fusion events

Question 8

High temperatures are required in thermonuclear fusion so that:

Accepted Answer

A)  some nuclei are moving fast enough to overcome the barrier to fusion 
B)  there is a high probability some nuclei will strike each other head on 
C)  the atomws are ionized 
D)  thermal expansioin gives the nuclei more room 
E)  the uncertainty principle can be circumvented 
A)  some nuclei are moving fast enough to overcome the barrier to fusion 
B)  there is a high probability some nuclei will strike each other head on 
C)  the atomws are ionized 
D)  thermal expansioin gives the nuclei more room 
E)  the uncertainty principle can be circumvented

Question 9

The energy released in a complete proton-proton cycle is about:

Accepted Answer

A)  3 keV 
B)  30 keV 
C)  3 MeV 
D)  30 MeV 
E)  300 MeV 
A)  3 keV 
B)  30 keV 
C)  3 MeV 
D)  30 MeV 
E)  300 MeV

Question 10

For a controlled nuclear fusion reaction, one needs:

Accepted Answer

A)  high number density n and high temperature T 
B)  high number density n and low temperature T 
C)  low number density n and high temperature T 
D)  low number density n and low temperature T 
E)  high number density n and temperature T = 0 K 
A)  high number density n and high temperature T 
B)  high number density n and low temperature T 
C)  low number density n and high temperature T 
D)  low number density n and low temperature T 
E)  high number density n and temperature T = 0 K

Question 11

The barrier to fusion comes about because protons:

Accepted Answer

A)  attract each other via the strong nuclear force 
B)  repel each other electrically 
C)  produce magnetic fields 
D)  attract neutrons via the strong nuclear force 
E)  attract electrons electrically 
A)  attract each other via the strong nuclear force 
B)  repel each other electrically 
C)  produce magnetic fields 
D)  attract neutrons via the strong nuclear force 
E)  attract electrons electrically

Question 12

A nuclear reactor is operating at a certain power level, with its multiplication factor adjusted to unity. The control rods are now used to reduce the power output to one-half its former value. After the reduction in power the multiplication factor is maintained at:

Accepted Answer

A)  1/2 
B)  1/4 
C)  2 
D)  4 
E)  1 
A)  1/2 
B)  1/4 
C)  2 
D)  4 
E)  1

Question 13

For purposes of a practical (energy producing) reaction one wants a disintegration energy Q that is:

Accepted Answer

A)  positive for fusion reactions and negative for fission reactions 
B)  negative for fusion reactions and positive for fission reactions 
C)  negative for both fusion and fission reactions 
D)  positive for both fusion and fission reactions 
E)  as close to zero as possible for both fusion and fission reactions 
A)  positive for fusion reactions and negative for fission reactions 
B)  negative for fusion reactions and positive for fission reactions 
C)  negative for both fusion and fission reactions 
D)  positive for both fusion and fission reactions 
E)  as close to zero as possible for both fusion and fission reactions

Question 14

In a subcritical nuclear reactor:

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of fission events per unit time decreases with time 
B)  the number of fission events per unit time increases with time 
C)  each fusion event produces fewer neutrons than when the reactor is critical 
D)  each fusion event produces more neutrons than when the reactor is critical 
E)  none of the above 
A)  the number of fission events per unit time decreases with time 
B)  the number of fission events per unit time increases with time 
C)  each fusion event produces fewer neutrons than when the reactor is critical 
D)  each fusion event produces more neutrons than when the reactor is critical 
E)  none of the above

Question 15

An explosion does not result from a small piece of 235U because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it does not fission 
B)  the neutrons released move too fast 
C)  238U is required 
D)  too many neutrons escape, preventing a chain reaction from starting 
E)  a few neutrons must be injected to start the chain reaction 
A)  it does not fission 
B)  the neutrons released move too fast 
C)  238U is required 
D)  too many neutrons escape, preventing a chain reaction from starting 
E)  a few neutrons must be injected to start the chain reaction

Question 16

In a nuclear power plant, the power discharged to the environment:

Accepted Answer

A)  can be made zero by proper design 
B)  must be less than the electrical power generated 
C)  must be greater than the electrical power generated 
D)  can be entirely recycled to produce an equal amount of electrical power 
E)  is not any of the above 
A)  can be made zero by proper design 
B)  must be less than the electrical power generated 
C)  must be greater than the electrical power generated 
D)  can be entirely recycled to produce an equal amount of electrical power 
E)  is not any of the above

Question 17

In laser fusion, the laser light is:

Accepted Answer

A)  emitted by the reacting nuclei 
B)  used to cause transitions between nuclear energy levels 
C)  used to cause transitions between atomic energy levels 
D)  used to replace the emitted gamma rays 
E)  used to heat the fuel pellet 
A)  emitted by the reacting nuclei 
B)  used to cause transitions between nuclear energy levels 
C)  used to cause transitions between atomic energy levels 
D)  used to replace the emitted gamma rays 
E)  used to heat the fuel pellet

Question 18

The overall proton-proton cycle is equivalent to:

Accepted Answer

A)  21H $\rightarrow$ 2H 
B)  41H $\rightarrow$ 4H 
C)  41H $\rightarrow$ 4H +4n 
D)  41H + 2e- $\rightarrow$4He + 2$\nu$ + 6$\gamma$ 
E)  41H + 2e+ $\rightarrow$4He + 2$\nu$ 
A)  21H $\rightarrow$ 2H 
B)  41H $\rightarrow$ 4H 
C)  41H $\rightarrow$ 4H +4n 
D)  41H + 2e- $\rightarrow$4He + 2$\nu$ + 6$\gamma$ 
E)  41H + 2e+ $\rightarrow$4He + 2$\nu$

Question 19

The barrier to fission comes about because the fragments:

Accepted Answer

A)  attract each other via the strong nuclear force 
B)  repel each other electrically 
C)  produce magnetic fields 
D)  have large masses 
E)  attract electrons electrically 
A)  attract each other via the strong nuclear force 
B)  repel each other electrically 
C)  produce magnetic fields 
D)  have large masses 
E)  attract electrons electrically

Question 20

Most magnetic confinement projects attempt:

Accepted Answer

A)  proton-proton fusion 
B)  proton-deuteron fusion 
C)  deuteron-deuteron fusion 
D)  deuteron-triton fusion 
E)  triton-triton fusion 
A)  proton-proton fusion 
B)  proton-deuteron fusion 
C)  deuteron-deuteron fusion 
D)  deuteron-triton fusion 
E)  triton-triton fusion

Exam 43: Energy From the Nucleus

The function of the control rods in a nuclear reactor is to:

In the normal operation of a nuclear reactor:

Which one of the following is NOT needed in a nuclear fission reactor?

Compared to fusion in a tokamak, laser fusion makes use of:

Consider all possible fission events. Which of the following statements is true?

The energy supplied by a thermal neutron in a fission event is essentially its:

The binding energy per nucleon:

High temperatures are required in thermonuclear fusion so that:

The energy released in a complete proton-proton cycle is about:

For a controlled nuclear fusion reaction, one needs:

The barrier to fusion comes about because protons:

A nuclear reactor is operating at a certain power level, with its multiplication factor adjusted to unity. The control rods are now used to reduce the power output to one-half its former value. After the reduction in power the multiplication factor is maintained at:

For purposes of a practical (energy producing) reaction one wants a disintegration energy Q that is:

In a subcritical nuclear reactor:

An explosion does not result from a small piece of 235U because:

In a nuclear power plant, the power discharged to the environment:

In laser fusion, the laser light is:

The overall proton-proton cycle is equivalent to:

The barrier to fission comes about because the fragments:

Most magnetic confinement projects attempt:

Measurement

Motion Along a Straight Line

Vector

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Force and Motion I

Force and Motion II

Kinetic Energy and Work

Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy

Center of Mass and Linear Momentum

Rotation

Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum

Equilibrium and Elasticity

Gravitation

Fluids

Oscillations

Waves I

Waves II

Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The Kinetic Theory of Gases

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Electric Charge

Electric Fields

Gauss Law

Electric Potential

Capacitance

Current and Resistance

Circuits

Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields Due to Currents

Induction and Inductance

Electromagnetic Oscillations and Alternating Current

Maxwells Equations; Magnetism of Matter

Electromagnetic Waves

Images

Interference

Diffraction

Relativity

Photons and Matter Waves

More About Matter Waves

All About Atoms

Conduction of Electricity in Solids

Nuclear Physics

Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang

Filters

An explosion does not result from a small piece of ²³⁵U because: