Physics · Science General

Nuclear Physics and Energy

1,324 Questions

Access a comprehensive set of questions on nuclear physics, reactor mechanisms, and atomic energy. Topics include nuclear fission, plasma generation, and radiation control. These physics questions form a core part of the syllabus for various engineering and civil service exams.

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Nuclear Physics and Energy Questions

Multiple choice biology towards green energy solar power plant generation of electricity production of electricity from solar energy

Problem associated with nuclear power plants is

  1. Emmission of hazardous waste

  2. Disposal of radioactive waste

  3. Thermal pollution

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. The heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity.  The high temperature produced during a nuclear reaction causes thermal pollution thereby affecting the life forms. Radiations are continuously released by radioactive waste produced by these power plants that affect mankind for generations making it hazardous. Thus the correct answer is option D. 

Multiple choice biology towards green energy solar power plant generation of electricity production of electricity from solar energy

The first disaster of nuclear reactor occurred at

  1. Trombay

  2. Narora

  3. Chemobyl

  4. TMI-2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The first major nuclear reactor disaster occurred at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) in Pennsylvania, USA in 1979. This was a partial meltdown. Chernobyl (1986) happened later, and 'Chemobyl' appears to be a misspelling.

Multiple choice india: security setup overview of india general knowledge

Consider the following statements:
1. A conventional warhead contains high energy explosives.
2. In a strategic warhead, radioactive materials are present and when triggered they exhibit huge radioactivity that can wipe out even cities.
Which of the above statements is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Conventional warheads use chemical explosives to cause damage through blast and fragmentation. Strategic warheads typically refer to nuclear weapons, which utilize radioactive materials to release massive energy.

Multiple choice chemistry the p-block elements - group 13 study of diborane some important compounds of boron study of boron

A boron carbide rod is used in a nuclear reactor, because boron $( ^{10}B )$ has a very:

  1. low area of cross-section for capturing neutrons

  2. high area of cross-section for capturing neutrons

  3. low area of cross-section for capturing protons

  4. high area of cross-section for capturing electrons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The wide absorption spectrum of boron makes it suitable also as a neutron shield. Larger the cross-sectional area more the number of thermal neutrons get captured in a nuclear reactor.

Multiple choice geography irrigation and power generation of electricity exploration and conservation of minerals secondary sector : industry

The power generated from the energy released by rearrangement of atomic nuclear is called _____________.

  1. thermal power

  2. geothermal power

  3. nuclear power

  4. solar power
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Nuclear or Atomic Energy is obtained by altering the structure of atoms. When such an alteration is made, much energy is released in the form of heat and this is used to generate electric power.

Multiple choice nuclear reactions nuclear structure nuclei atomic nuclei physics

Which one of the following cannot be used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor?

  1. Water

  2. Heavy water

  3. Molten sodium

  4. Graphite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Commonly used moderators in nuclear reactors include water, heavy water (D2O), and graphite, which slow down fast neutrons effectively. Molten sodium is used as a coolant to transfer heat from the reactor core, not as a moderator.

Multiple choice nuclear reactions nuclear structure nuclei atomic nuclei physics

In a working nuclear react, cadmium rods (control rods) are used to:-

  1. Speed up neutrons

  2. Slow down neutrons

  3. Absorb some neutrons

  4. Absorb all neutrons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cadmium rods are used in nuclear reactors to absorb neutrons, which helps control the rate of the fission chain reaction.

Multiple choice nuclear reactions nuclear structure nuclei atomic nuclei physics

The rest energy of an electron is

  1. $510 KeV$
  2. $931 KeV$
  3. $510 MeV$
  4. $931 MeV$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rest energy of an electron $=m _{ e }{ c }^{ 2 }$
Here $m _{ e }=9.1\times { 10 }^{ -31 }kg$ and $C$ = velocity of light

$\therefore$ Rest energy $=9.1\times { 10 }^{ -31 }\times\left( 3\times { 10 }^{ 8 } \right) ^{ 2 }joule$

                         $=\displaystyle \frac { 9.1\times { 10 }^{ -31 }\times \left( 3\times { 10 }^{ 8 } \right) ^{ 2 } }{ 1.6\times { 10 }^{ -19 } } eV\simeq 510KeV$

Multiple choice nuclear reactions nuclear structure nuclei atomic nuclei physics

The difference between a nuclear reactor and an atomic bomb is that

  1. no chain reaction takes place in nuclear reactor while in the atomic bomb there is a chain reaction

  2. the chain reaction in nuclear reactor is controlled

  3. the chain reaction in nuclear reactor is not controlled

  4. no-chain reaction takes place in atomic bomb while it takes place in nuclear reactor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The chain reaction in nuclear reactor is controlled 

Both in nuclear reactor and atomic bomb nuclear fission takes place. But in nuclear reactor controlled fission chain reaction takes place while in atomic bomb chain reaction is uncontrolled. 

Multiple choice nuclear reactions nuclear structure nuclei atomic nuclei physics

The energy equivalent of $1\ amu$ is

  1. $931\ eV$
  2. $93.1\ V$
  3. $931\ MeV$
  4. $9.31\ MeV$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

$1\ amu =1.66\times 10^{-27} kg$


According to Einstein's mass energy equivalence, $E=mc^2$ where $c=$ velocity of light. 

So, $E=1.66\times 10^{-27}\times (3\times 10^8)^2=14.94\times 10^{-11} J$

$E=\dfrac{14.94\times 10^{-11}}{1.6\times 10^{-19}} eV$       where $1eV=1.6\times 10^{-19} J$

$E=931\times 10^{6} eV=931\ MeV$

Multiple choice chemistry energy production nuclear reactor the nuclear power station isotopes and nuclear chemistry

The critical mass of fissionable $U^{235}$ can be reduced by

  1. adding impurities

  2. heating material

  3. surrounding it by a neutron-reflecting material

  4. surrounding it by a neutron-absorbing material
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Surrounding a spherical critical mass with a neutron reflector reduces the mass needed for criticality.
A common material for a neutron reflector is beryllium metal.

Multiple choice chemistry energy production nuclear reactor the nuclear power station isotopes and nuclear chemistry

Which of the following are used as Control Rods :


a) Boron rods
b) Cadmium rods
c) Copper rods

  1. a is correct

  2. b is correct

  3. c is correct

  4. a,b are correct
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cadmium and Boron rods are used as control rods in a nuclear reactor as , they are capable of absorbing many neutrons without themselves fissioning.
So, correct choice is option D.