The nuclear power station - class-VIII
A comprehensive quiz covering nuclear power stations, including reactor components (fuel, moderators, control rods), nuclear fission processes, reactor types (BWR, PWR), and basic nuclear physics principles for class VIII students.
Questions
The most penetrating atom smashing particle is
- neutron
- proton
- alpha particle
- deuteron
Boiling water reactor and pressurized water reactors are
- nuclear reactor
- solar reactor
- OTEC
- Biogas reactor
In a nuclear reactor, heavy water is used as a :
- Controlling material
- Moderator
- Fuel
- Heat exchanger
The critical mass of fissionable $U^{235}$ can be reduced by
- adding impurities
- heating material
- surrounding it by a neutron-reflecting material
- surrounding it by a neutron-absorbing material
Assertion (A) : Fragments produced in the fission of $U^{235}$ are radioactive
Reason (R) : The fragments have abnormally high proton to neutron ratio
- Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A
- Both A and R are true and R is not correct explanation of A
- A is true but R is false
- A is false but R is true
Consider the following statements A and B and identify the correct statements.
Statement A : $p-n; p-p; n-n$ forces between nucleons are not equal and charge dependent
statement B : In nuclear reactor the fission reaction will be in accelerating state if the value of neutron reproduction factor is $k>1$
- Both A and B are correct
- Both A and B are wrong
- A is wrong B is correct
- A is correct B is wrong
Which of the following are used as Control Rods :
a) Boron rods
b) Cadmium rods
c) Copper rods
- a is correct
- b is correct
- c is correct
- a,b are correct
Thermal neutrons are
- Prompt neutrons
- Slow neutrons
- Neutrons which are in the nucleus
- Neutrons from the sun
In a critical chain reaction, energy is released at
- increasing rate
- steady rate
- decreasing rate
- none
The man-made element which was made in the nuclear reactor is
- polonium
- plutonium
- thorium
- uranium
In nuclear reactor, Cadmium rods are used as
- Fuel
- Moderator
- Control Rods
- None
The material used to slow the neutrons in a reactor is called
- Control rod
- Moderator
- Fuel
- Heat exchanger
Nuclear fission is caused by :
- Fast protons
- Fast neutrons
- Slow protons
- Slow neutrons
The fuel used in nuclear power plants is
- U-235
- U-238
- U-236
- None of the above
The first atomic reactor was made by
- $Fermi$
- $Bohr$
- $Taylor$
- $Rutherford$
Boron rods in a nuclear reactor are used to
- absorb excess neutrons
- absorb alpha particle
- slow down the reaction
- speed up the reaction
Which of the following is a neutron absorber?
- $Pb$
- $Ag$
- $Cd$
- $Cu$
Control rods used in nuclear reactors are made of
- stainless steel
- graphite
- cadmium
- plutonium
For making atom bomb, what else is needed except $U^{235}$?
- neutron
- proton
- electron
- meson
In a nuclear reactor, moderators slow down the neutrons which come out in a fission process.The moderators used have light nuclei. Heavy nuclei will not solve the purpose, because
- The net weight of the reactor would be unbearably high.
- Heavy nuclei will break generating unwanted smaller nuclei.
- Elastic collision of neutrons with heavy nuclei will not slow them down.
- Substances with heavy nuclei do not occur in liquid or gaseous state at room temperature.
The process by which the percentage of U-235' in U-238 is increased, is called
- fission
- fusion
- chain reaction
- enrichment
Heavy water is used in nuclear reactor as _________.
- Coolant
- Moderator
- Both coolant and moderator
- Catalyst
How many nuclear power plants does India have in 2018?
- 2
- 3
- 7
- None of these
The term $BWR$ stands for
- Bureau of Workers Rights
- Boiling Water Reactor
- Bilateral Water Reactor
- Bureau of Waste Research
Most of the highly radioactive 'spent' fuel at nucleus power plant are ___________.
- shipped abroad
- stored in specially designed containers
- buried underground
- reprocessed for other uses
What is the importance of moderator in a nuclear reactor?
- Moderator controls the flow of water inlet.
- Controls the nuclear fission by absorbing the excess neutrons.
- Controls the nuclear fission by slowing down the neutrons.
- None of these
Which is the material responsible for controlling the chain reaction in nuclear reactor?
- Boron
- Zirconium
- Beryllium
- Lead
In a nuclear reactor, it is desirable to use reactor core in the form of ____________.
- cubical or cylindrical
- cubical or spherical
- cylindrical or spherical
- spherical
The nuclear reaction that takes place in a nuclear reactor is a/an ________ .
- controlled fission reaction
- uncontrolled fission reaction
- nuclear fusion reaction
- none of the above
In nuclear reactor, graphite is used as ___________.
- Fuel
- Coolant
- Moderator
- Electrode
If natural uranium is used as fuel, the moderator used will be _________.
- Ordinary water
- Graphite
- Boron
- Heavy water
Water in boiling water reactor is used as ___________.
- Coolant
- Moderator
- Both coolant and moderator
- None of these
Heavy water is ________.
- $DO$
- $D _2O$
- $D _3O _2$
- $D _2O _2$
The process of increasing the percentage of fissionable $U-235$ in naturally occurring Uranium is called _________ .
- controlled fission
- artificial transmutation
- chemical process
- enrichment
In a nuclear reactor, nuclear energy is obtained by breaking the nucleus of uranium by :
- fast moving neutrons
- fast moving electrons
- slow moving electrons
- slow moving neutrons
The sources of energy obtained in a nuclear reaction are :
- Mass defect
- Binding energy
- Fission
- Fusion
- All of these
Heavy water is:
- compound of deutrium and oxygen
- water at $4 ^\circ C$
- water, in which soap does not lather
- compound of heavy oxygen and heavy hydrogen
Nuclear power stations are usually located near source of water because.
- Fuel could be transported to the station by ships
- Chemical wastes are discharged into the river
- Water is used as coolant and moderator
- Water is used to rotate the turbines of the generator
The control rod in a nuclear reactor is made of.
- Cadmium
- Uranium
- Graphite
- Plutonium
The nuclear fission chain reaction is initiated by the particle.
- Proton
- Neutron
- Electron
- Positron
In a nuclear reactor the excess reactivity can be controlled by using _____________ rods.
- Lead rods
- Iron rods
- Uranium rods
- Cadmium rods
Cadmium rods are used in a nuclear reactor
- To produce neutrons
- To speed up neutrons
- To absorb neutrons
- None of these
The first atomic reactor was constructed by.
- Einstein
- Goldstein
- Fermi
- Curie
In a nuclear reactor heavy water is used as a.
- Moderate
- Fuel
- Shield
- Controlling element
In nuclear power station energy of uranium is used for producing
- Electrical energy
- Mechanical energy
- Heat energy
- Magnetic energy
Which one moves with greatest speed :
- $\alpha$-rays
- $\beta$-rays
- $\gamma$-rays
- cathode rays
The reaction that take place in nuclear reactor is:
- Nuclear fusion
- Nuclear fission
- Controlled nuclear fission
- Double decomposition
Moderator is a substance that ..................... the neutrons in a nuclear reactor.
- Slow down
- Activates
- Both (a) and (b) above
- None of the above
The nuclear reaction that takes place in a nuclear reactor is ____________.
- controlled fission reaction
- uncontrolled fission reaction
- nuclear fusion reaction
- none of the above
The amount of $U^{235}$ to be fissioned, to operate a $10\ kW$ nuclear reactor is (Approximately)
- $1.2 \times 10 ^ { - 5 }\ \mathrm { gm } / \mathrm { s }$
- $1.2 \times 10 ^ { - 7 }\ \mathrm { gm } / \mathrm { s }$
- $1.2 \times 10 ^ { - 9 }\ \mathrm { gm } / \mathrm { s }$
- $1.2 \times 10 ^ { - 11 }\ \mathrm { gm } / \mathrm { s }$
The amount of $U ^ { 235 }$ in kg which is to be used per hour in a nuclear reactor of capacity $100$ ($E = 200 MeV/fission$)
- $0.45 \times 10^{-5}$
- $4.5 \times 10^{-5}$
- $4.5 \times 10^{5}$
- $45 \times 10^{-5}$
High energy netrons are used in a nuclear reactor to initiate the fission reaction.
- True
- False
Cadmium rods are used as moderators in a nuclear reactor.
- True
- False
The material that slows down the neutrons in the nuclear reactor is called
- Reduced
- Compressor
- Moderator
- None of these
An atomic power nuclear reactor can deliver $300$ MW. The energy released due to fission of each nucleus of uranium atom $U^{235} $ is $170$ MeV. The number of uranium atoms fissioned per hour will be
- $4\times 10^{22}$
- $30\times 10^{22}$
- $10\times 10^{20}$
- $5\times 10^{15}$
The fission of one uranium nucleus releases energy of amount x joules. Find the number of fissions required to produced energy at the rate of v MW for t hours a nuclear power plant.
- $ \dfrac {yt}{x} $
- $ \dfrac{x}{yt} $
- $ 3.6 \times 10^9 \dfrac {yt}{x} $
- $ 3.6 \times 10^9 \dfrac {x}{yt} $
During a nuclear fission reaction
- a heavy nucleus breaks into two fragments by itself
- a light nucleus bombared by thermal neutrons breaks up
- a heavy nucleus bombared by thermal neutrons breaks up
- two light nuclei combine to give a heavier nucleus and possibly other products
The fissionable material used in a breeder reactor is ________
- $ _{92}\textrm{U}^{235}$
- $ _{94}\textrm{Pu}^{239}$
- $ _{90}\textrm{Th}^{234}$
- $ _{c}\textrm{C}^{12}$
Atomic reactor is based on
- controlled chain reaction
- uncontrolled chain reaction
- nuclear fission
- nuclear fusion
The critical mass of $U^{235}$ can be reduced by
- putting a neutron reflector around it
- heating it
- mixing impurity in it
- putting neutron absorber around it
The most suitable material for moderator in a nuclear reactor is
- $D _{2}$
- $Cd$
- $B$
- $ _{92}\textrm{U}^{235}$
Which of the following is the best nuclear fuel?
- $U^{236}$
- $Pu^{239}$
- $Np^{239}$
- $Th^{236}$
The atomic weight of uranium isotope, which is equally fissionable is :
- $235$
- $238$
- $234$
- $236$
The fission of $U^{238}$ is possible by
- only fast neutrons
- only slow neutrons
- fast as well as slow neutrons
- fast protons
For maintaining sustained chain reaction, the following is required
- protons
- electrons
- neutrons
- positrons
In nuclear reactor which of the following quantities is conserved?
- only energy
- only mass
- only momentum
- mass, energy and momentum
What is the order of the temperature at which average kinetic energy of an atom in gaseous hydrogen becomes equal to the binding energy of the electron in hydrogen atom?
- $10^{4}$ K
- $10^{5}$ K
- $10^{3}$ K
- $10^{2}$ K
The ratio $r$ of the rate of production of neutrons from uranium nucleus to the rate of leakage of neutrons for sustained chain reaction is
- $r>1$
- $1>r$
- $1>r^{2}$
- $r^{2}$ = $1$
Thermal neutrons are those which
- are at very high temperature
- move with high velocities
- have kinetic energies similar to those of the surroundings molecules
- are at rest
The number of fissions of $^{235}U _{92}$ required to a produce a power of $1\ W$ is :
- $3.1\times 10^{10}$
- $3.1\times 10^{13}$
- $3.1\times 10^{19}$
- $3.1\times 10^{8}$
State two safety measures to be taken while establishing a nuclear power plant.
- Use uranium rod and inside environment is not shielded
- Use uranium rod and inside environment should be shielded
- Use copper rod and inside environment is not shielded
- None of the above
A proton and a neutron are both shot at $100 ms^{-1}$ towards a $ _6^{12}C$ nucleus. Which particle, if either, is more likely to be absorbed by the nucleus?
- The proton
- The neutron
- Both particles are about equally likely to be absorbed
- Neither particle will be absorbed
Fast neutrons can easily be slowed down by
- the use of lead shielding
- passing them through water
- elastic collision with heavy nuclei
- applying a strong electric field
What is the purpose of Boron rods in a nuclear reactor ?
- Absorb excess neutrons
- Absorb alpha particles
- Slow down the speed of neutrons
- Speed up the reaction
Control rods in a nuclear power plant is to
- Slow the neutrons thereby controlling the fission reaction.
- Shut down the reactor.
- Both $(1)$ and $(2)$
- None of these
Scientists are working hard to develop nuclear fusion reactor. Nuclei of heavy, $ _{ 1 }^{ 2 }{ H }$, known as deuteron and denoted by D, can be thought of as a candidate for fusion reactor. The D-D reaction is $ _{ 1 }^{ 2 }{H }+ _{ 1 }^{ 2 }{ H }\rightarrow _{ 2 }^{ 3 }{ He+n+energy }$. In the core of fusion reactor, a gas of heavy hydrogen is fully ionized into deuteron nuclei and electrons.This collection of $ _{ 1 }^{ 2 }{ H }$ nuclei and electron is known as plasma. The nuclei move randomly in the reactor core and occasionally come close enough for nuclear fusion to take place. Usually, the temperatures in the reactor core plasma. Special techniques are used which confine the plasma for a time $\displaystyle { t } _{ 0 }$ before the particles fly away from the core. If $n$ is the density (number/volume) of deuterons, the product ${ nt } _{ 0 }$ is called Lawson number, In one of the criteria, a reactor is termed successful if Lawson number is greater than $5 \times { 10 }^{ 14}s/{ cm }^{3 }$. It may be helpful to use the following: Boltzmann constant
$k=8.6\times { 10 }^{ -5 }eV/K$; $\displaystyle \frac { { e }^{ 2 } }{ 4\pi { \epsilon } _{ 0 } } =1.44\times { 10 }^{ -9 }eVm$. In the core of nuclear fusion reactor. the gas becomes plasma because of :- strong nuclear force acting between the deuterons
- coulomb force acting between the deuterons
- coulomb force acting between deuteron-electron pairs
- the high temperature maintained inside the reactor core
Introduction of which rod in a nuclear reactor controls chain reaction ?
- Iron rods
- Silicon rods
- Cadmium rods
- Platinum rods
Nuclear reactors are normally refuelled ___________.
- when they are decommissioned
- when the gauge indicates fuel low
- in every $12$ to $18$ months
- in every $2$ to $4$ weeks
The functions of the reflectors in nuclear power plant is that:
- It reflects the neutrons that are escaping from the case.
- It reflects the radiation escaping the case of the reactor.
- Both $(1)$ and $(2)$
- It accelerates the reaction.
Which of the following are used as nuclear fuel?
- $ _{82}{Pb}^{208}$
- $ _{92}{U}^{235}$
- $ _{92}{U}^{238}$
- Both (B) and (C)
Nuclear power plants always operates as ___________.
- peak load plants
- base load plants
- can be used as both; the load and peak load plants depends on the requirements
- None of these
Which of the following is NOT a type of nuclear reactor?
- Proton reactor
- Research reactor
- Breeder reactor
- Power reactor
Which of the reactors are highly stable?
- Pressurised water reactors
- Boiling water reactors
- Pressurised heavy water reactors
- Fast breeder reactors
Physics contributed most to the development of alternative energy resources with discovery of:
- Controlled nuclear fission
- Photoelectric effect
- Motion of charged particles in electromagnetic
- Faradays laws of electromagnetic induction
Which of the following is NOT used as a nuclear fuel?
- $U-232$
- $Th-232$
- $C1-241$
- $U-236$
The pressurised water reactor $(PWR)$ employs:
- Light water and natural uranium
- Heavy water and enriched uranium
- Light water and enriched uranium
- None of these
When the reactor shuts down why does it require cooling?
- To cool the reactor from chain reaction
- To cool the reactor from fission reaction
- Both $(1)$ and $(2)$
- None of these
The nuclear reactor of the power plant must be shielded with ______walls.
- Lead
- Steel
- Both
- None
The nuclear reactor at Kaiga is a :
- research reactor
- fusion reactor
- breedor reactor
- power reactor
Nuclear power reactor is based on the principle of.
- Exothermic chemical reactions
- Endothermic chemical reactions
- Controlled nuclear fission
- Thermonuclear fusion
A nuclear reactor must consist of which of the following parts?
I. Electric generator
II. Fissionable fuel elements
III. Moderator
- I only
- III only
- I and II only
- II and III only
- I, II and III
Boron rods, in a nuclear reactor, are used as.
- moderator
- Protective shield
- Coolants
- Control rods
Best neutron moderator is.
- Beryllium oxide
- Pure water
- Graphite
- Heavy water
A disadvantage of nuclear power is -
- it produces carbon dioxide which is responsible for global warming
- it produces toxic waste
- it affects the ozone layer
- it requires large amounts of fuel to produce a small amount of energy
Cadmium rods are used as moderators in a nuclear reactor.
- True
- False
Best moderator for neutron is
- berillium oxide
- pure water
- heavy water
- graphite
In a nuclear power plant, uranium atoms
- combine and give off heat energy
- split and give off heat energy
- burn and give off heat energy
- split and give off electrons
Boron rods are used in nuclear reactor as
- moderator
- control rods
- coolant
- protective shield
High energy neutrons are used in a nuclear reactor to initiate the fission reaction.
- True
- False
Which of the following controls the chain reaction in a nuclear reactor?
- Molecules of high energy
- Ions
- Active hydrogen
- Moderator
In a nuclear reactor, the moderator used is
- uranium - 234
- uranium-238
- cadmium
- heavy water
Which of the following is a good nuclear fuel?
- uranium_236
- neptunium_239
- thorium_236
- plutonium-239
In a nuclear reactor
- the chain reaction is kept under control by rods of cadmium, which reduces the rate
- the thick concrete shield is used to slow down the speed of fast neutrons
- heavy water (or graphite) moderate the activity of the reactor
- out of $U^{238}$ and $U^{235}$ natural uranium has less that 1% of $U^{235}$
The phenomenon of nuclear fission can be carried out both in a controlled and in an uncontrolled way. Out of the following, the correct statements vis-avis these phenomena are
- the fission energy released per reaction is much more than conventional nuclear reactions and one of the products of the reaction is that very particle which initiates the reaction
- it is the "surface to volume" ratio of the sample of nuclear fuel used which determines whether or not the reaction would sustain itself as a "chain reaction"
- the "control rods" in a nuclear reactor must be made of a material that absorbs neutrons effectively
- the energy released per fission as well as energy released per unit mass of the fuel in nuclear fission are both greater than the corresponding quantities for nuclear fusion