Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

The table lists properties of several heavy nuclei when they are struck by thermal neutrons; En is the excitation energy and Eb is the energy barrier. Which quantity, or combination of quantities, represents the energy put into the oscillation of the resulting compound nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  En 
B)  Eb 
C)  En - Eb 
D)  Eb - En 
E)  Mass of the target nuclide + Eb 
A)  En 
B)  Eb 
C)  En - Eb 
D)  Eb - En 
E)  Mass of the target nuclide + Eb

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 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 9

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 10

Tokamaks confine deuteron plasmas using:

Accepted Answer

A)  thick steel walls 
B)  magnetic fields 
C)  laser beams 
D)  vacuum tubes 
E)  electric fields 
A)  thick steel walls 
B)  magnetic fields 
C)  laser beams 
D)  vacuum tubes 
E)  electric fields

Question 11

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 12

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 13

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 none 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 none of the above

Question 14

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 15

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

Question 16

Which one of the following represents a fusion reaction that would yield large amounts of energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  238U92 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 90Kr36 + 146Cs55 + 2H1 + 1n0 
B)  239Pu92 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 96Sr38 + 141Ba56 + 31n0 
C)  238U92$\rightarrow$ 234Th90 + 4He2 
D)  3H1 + 2H1 $\rightarrow$ 4He2 + 1n0 
E)  107Ag47 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 108Ag47$\rightarrow$ 108Cd48 + 0e-1 
A)  238U92 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 90Kr36 + 146Cs55 + 2H1 + 1n0 
B)  239Pu92 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 96Sr38 + 141Ba56 + 31n0 
C)  238U92$\rightarrow$ 234Th90 + 4He2 
D)  3H1 + 2H1 $\rightarrow$ 4He2 + 1n0 
E)  107Ag47 + 1n0 $\rightarrow$ 108Ag47$\rightarrow$ 108Cd48 + 0e-1

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

Most of the energy produced by the Sun is due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear fusion 
C)  chemical reaction 
D)  gravitational collapse 
E)  induced emfs associated with the Sun's magnetic field 
A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear fusion 
C)  chemical reaction 
D)  gravitational collapse 
E)  induced emfs associated with the Sun's magnetic field

Question 19

The purpose of a moderator in a nuclear reactor is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  provide neutrons for the fission process 
B)  slow down fast neutrons to increase the probability of capture by uranium 
C)  absorb dangerous gamma radiation 
D)  shield the reactor operator from dangerous radiation 
E)  none of the above 
A)  provide neutrons for the fission process 
B)  slow down fast neutrons to increase the probability of capture by uranium 
C)  absorb dangerous gamma radiation 
D)  shield the reactor operator from dangerous radiation 
E)  none of the above

Question 20

Most laser fusion 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 binding energy per nucleon:

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

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

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:

When fissions, the products might be:

The table lists properties of several heavy nuclei when they are struck by thermal neutrons; En is the excitation energy and Eb is the energy barrier. Which quantity, or combination of quantities, represents the energy put into the oscillation of the resulting compound nucleus?

High temperatures are required in thermonuclear fusion so that:

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

Tokamaks confine deuteron plasmas using:

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

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

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

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

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:

Which one of the following represents a fusion reaction that would yield large amounts of energy?

In laser fusion, the laser light is:

Most of the energy produced by the Sun is due to:

The purpose of a moderator in a nuclear reactor is to:

Most laser fusion projects attempt:

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The table lists properties of several heavy nuclei when they are struck by thermal neutrons; E_n is the excitation energy and E_b is the energy barrier. Which quantity, or combination of quantities, represents the energy put into the oscillation of the resulting compound nucleus?

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