Question 1

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 E

Question 2

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" D

Question 3

What was the most convincing evidence that a natural nuclear reactor formed two billion years ago in a uranium deposit in Africa?

Accepted Answer

A) the relative depletion of 235U in the deposit 
B) the relative depletion of 238U in the deposit 
C) the relative abundance of lead in the deposit 
D) the isotopic distribution of neodymium in the deposit 
E) the appearance of radiation damage in the surrounding rock 
A) the relative depletion of 235U in the deposit 
B) the relative depletion of 238U in the deposit 
C) the relative abundance of lead in the deposit 
D) the isotopic distribution of neodymium in the deposit 
E) the appearance of radiation damage in the surrounding rock D

Question 4

The approximate amount of energy emitted in the fission of a nucleus such as 235U is:

Accepted Answer

A) 200 eV 
B) 7.6 MeV 
C) 200 MeV 
D) 760 MeV 
E) 200 GeV 
A) 200 eV 
B) 7.6 MeV 
C) 200 MeV 
D) 760 MeV 
E) 200 GeV

Question 5

When   fissions, the products might be:

Accepted Answer

A)    ,
  , and a proton 
B)    ,
  , and a neutron 
C)    and
  
D)    ,
  , and an alpha particle 
E) two uranium nuclei 
A)    ,
  , and a proton 
B)    ,
  , and a neutron 
C)    and
  
D)    ,
  , and an alpha particle 
E) two uranium nuclei

Question 6

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 7

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 8

The Sun has enough hydrogen in its core to continue fusing hydrogen to helium for about another:

Accepted Answer

A) million years 
B) five million years 
C) five billion years 
D) five trillion years 
E) The Sun can continue to fuse hydrogen to helium indefinitely. 
A) million years 
B) five million years 
C) five billion years 
D) five trillion years 
E) The Sun can continue to fuse hydrogen to helium indefinitely.

Question 9

When uranium undergoes fission as a result of neutron bombardment, the energy released is due to:

Accepted Answer

A) oxidation of the uranium 
B) kinetic energy of the bombarding neutrons 
C) radioactivity of the uranium nucleus 
D) radioactivity of the fission products 
E) a reduction in binding energy 
A) oxidation of the uranium 
B) kinetic energy of the bombarding neutrons 
C) radioactivity of the uranium nucleus 
D) radioactivity of the fission products 
E) a reduction in binding energy

Question 10

To produce energy by fusion of two nuclei, the nuclei must:

Accepted Answer

A) have at least several thousand electron volts of kinetic energy 
B) both be above iron in mass number 
C) have more neutrons than protons 
D) be unstable 
E) be magic number nuclei 
A) have at least several thousand electron volts of kinetic energy 
B) both be above iron in mass number 
C) have more neutrons than protons 
D) be unstable 
E) be magic number nuclei

Question 11

The binding energy per nucleon:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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 13

If the nucleus of a lead atom were broken into two identical nuclei, the total mass of the result would be:

Accepted Answer

A) the same as before 
B) greater than before 
C) less than before 
D) converted into radiation 
E) converted into kinetic energy 
A) the same as before 
B) greater than before 
C) less than before 
D) converted into radiation 
E) converted into kinetic energy

Question 14

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 15

Which of the following chemical elements is not produced by thermonuclear fusion in stars?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon (Z = 6, A= 12) 
B) Silicon (Z = 14, A = 28) 
C) Oxygen (Z = 8, A = 16) 
D) Mercury (Z = 80, A = 200) 
E) Chromium (Z = 24, A =52) 
A) Carbon (Z = 6, A= 12) 
B) Silicon (Z = 14, A = 28) 
C) Oxygen (Z = 8, A = 16) 
D) Mercury (Z = 80, A = 200) 
E) Chromium (Z = 24, A =52)

Question 16

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 atoms are ionized 
D) thermal expansion 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 atoms are ionized 
D) thermal expansion gives the nuclei more room 
E) the uncertainty principle can be circumvented

Question 17

In a neutron-induced fission process, delayed neutrons come from:

Accepted Answer

A) the fission products 
B) the original nucleus just before it absorbs the neutron 
C) the original nucleus just after it absorbs the neutron 
D) the moderator material 
E) the control rods 
A) the fission products 
B) the original nucleus just before it absorbs the neutron 
C) the original nucleus just after it absorbs the neutron 
D) the moderator material 
E) the control rods

Question 18

In a nuclear reactor the fissionable fuel is formed into pellets rather than finely ground and mixed with the moderator.This reduces the probability of:

Accepted Answer

A) non-fissioning absorption of neutrons 
B) loss of neutrons through the reactor container 
C) absorption of two neutrons by single fissionable nucleus 
D) loss of neutrons in the control rods 
E) none of the above 
A) non-fissioning absorption of neutrons 
B) loss of neutrons through the reactor container 
C) absorption of two neutrons by single fissionable nucleus 
D) loss of neutrons in the control rods 
E) none of the above

Question 19

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

Question 20

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

Exam 42: Energy From the Nucleus

In laser fusion, the laser light is:

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

What was the most convincing evidence that a natural nuclear reactor formed two billion years ago in a uranium deposit in Africa?

The approximate amount of energy emitted in the fission of a nucleus such as 235U is:

When fissions, the products might be:

The binding energy per nucleon:

The barrier to fusion comes about because protons:

The Sun has enough hydrogen in its core to continue fusing hydrogen to helium for about another:

When uranium undergoes fission as a result of neutron bombardment, the energy released is due to:

To produce energy by fusion of two nuclei, the nuclei must:

The binding energy per nucleon:

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

If the nucleus of a lead atom were broken into two identical nuclei, the total mass of the result would be:

In the normal operation of a nuclear reactor:

Which of the following chemical elements is not produced by thermonuclear fusion in stars?

High temperatures are required in thermonuclear fusion so that:

In a neutron-induced fission process, delayed neutrons come from:

In a nuclear reactor the fissionable fuel is formed into pellets rather than finely ground and mixed with the moderator.This reduces the probability of:

Most magnetic confinement projects attempt:

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

Measurement

Motion Along a Straight Line

Vectors

Motion in Two and Three Dimensions

Force and Motion

Force and Motion

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

Waves

Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics

The Kinetic Theory of Gases

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Coulombs Law

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 1

Diffraction

Relativity

Photons and Matter Waves

More About Matter Waves

All About Atoms

Conduction of Electricity in Solids

Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang

Filters

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

The approximate amount of energy emitted in the fission of a nucleus such as ²³⁵U is: