5.1 Nuclear Fusion

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What is the main difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?

Fusion reactions produce more radioactive waste than fission reactions.

Fusion occurs at lower temperatures compared to fission.

Fusion releases less energy than fission reactions.

Fusion involves the merging of light nuclei, while fission involves heavy atomic nuclei splitting into smaller ones. (correct)

Which isotopes are commonly studied for potential energy production through nuclear fusion?

Deuterium and Tritium (correct)

Carbon and Oxygen

Uranium and Plutonium

Helium and Neon

What is the result of the fusion of deuterium and tritium?

Helium and a neutron (correct)

Lithium

Carbon

Neon

What is the state of matter called when isotopes of hydrogen are heated to extremely high temperatures?

Plasma Signup and view all the answers

What allows the atomic nuclei to come close enough for fusion to occur in high-temperature plasmas?

Strong nuclear force Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main technical challenges researchers face in achieving practical nuclear fusion?

Confining the plasma at extremely high temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant?

Separating the radioactive coolant from non-radioactive water/steam Signup and view all the answers

Why is sodium used as a coolant in some reactor designs?

Sodium retains mechanical strength and purity at high temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What is a major disadvantage of using sodium as a coolant in nuclear reactors?

High compatibility with air and water Signup and view all the answers

In a steam generator, what is the purpose of the secondary side?

To turn water into steam using hot coolant Signup and view all the answers

Why is an intermediate system necessary when using sodium as a coolant?

To separate the active sodium from water Signup and view all the answers

What allows for the conversion of heat produced by nuclear fission into electricity in a nuclear power plant?

Steam generator Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of BWR mentioned in the text?

Possibility of radioactive contamination in the turbine mechanism Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates a CANDU reactor from light-water reactors (LWRs)?

Heavy water serves as both moderator and coolant Signup and view all the answers

Why is heavy water used as a moderator and coolant in a CANDU reactor?

To minimize the cost of enrichment of uranium Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sodium in a liquid metal cooled reactor?

To act as a coolant Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reactor has the advantage of not requiring a high-pressure vessel?

CANDU reactor Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of BWR related to its operation on part load?

Boiling limits power density Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?

Nuclear fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission. Signup and view all the answers

Which process is commonly used in the functioning of nuclear power plants?

Nuclear Fission Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neutrons in nuclear fission?

To initiate further fusion reactions Signup and view all the answers

Why are fusion reactions considered sustainable for energy production?

More energy is released than consumed in initiating the reaction Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that distinguishes a hydrogen bomb from an atomic bomb?

The principle of operation (fusion vs. fission) Signup and view all the answers

In a nuclear-fueled power-producing system, what is the function of the controlled fission heat source?

Produce thermal energy through fission Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between thermonuclear reactions and temperature?

They are dependent on temperature for their occurrence Signup and view all the answers

What role does uranium-235 and plutonium-239 play in nuclear fission?

Initiating the chain reaction Signup and view all the answers

How does the process of nuclear fission produce energy?

By splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of a Nuclear Power Plant?

Heat exchanger Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reactor allows for complete freedom to inspect and maintain the turbine, feed heaters, and condenser during operation?

Pressurized water reactor Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of a Boiling Water Reactor compared to a Pressurized Water Reactor?

Costly heat exchanger circuit Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the Pressurized Water Reactor is responsible for keeping the water at high pressure to prevent boiling?

Pressure vessel Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of water in a Pressurized Water Reactor?

It serves as a moderator and coolant Signup and view all the answers

Why does a Pressurized Water Reactor allow for reducing fuel costs?

By extracting more energy per unit weight of fuel Signup and view all the answers

What problem makes it difficult to reprocess fuel in a Pressurized Water Reactor?

Radiation damage suffered by the fuel Signup and view all the answers

5.1 Nuclear Fusion

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Questions and Answers

What is the main difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?

Which isotopes are commonly studied for potential energy production through nuclear fusion?

What is the result of the fusion of deuterium and tritium?

What is the state of matter called when isotopes of hydrogen are heated to extremely high temperatures?

What allows the atomic nuclei to come close enough for fusion to occur in high-temperature plasmas?

What is one of the main technical challenges researchers face in achieving practical nuclear fusion?

What is the main function of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant?

Why is sodium used as a coolant in some reactor designs?

What is a major disadvantage of using sodium as a coolant in nuclear reactors?

In a steam generator, what is the purpose of the secondary side?

Why is an intermediate system necessary when using sodium as a coolant?

What allows for the conversion of heat produced by nuclear fission into electricity in a nuclear power plant?

What is a disadvantage of BWR mentioned in the text?

What differentiates a CANDU reactor from light-water reactors (LWRs)?

Why is heavy water used as a moderator and coolant in a CANDU reactor?

What is the function of sodium in a liquid metal cooled reactor?

Which type of reactor has the advantage of not requiring a high-pressure vessel?

What is a disadvantage of BWR related to its operation on part load?

What is the key difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?

Which process is commonly used in the functioning of nuclear power plants?

What is the role of neutrons in nuclear fission?

Why are fusion reactions considered sustainable for energy production?

What is the primary factor that distinguishes a hydrogen bomb from an atomic bomb?

In a nuclear-fueled power-producing system, what is the function of the controlled fission heat source?

What is the relationship between thermonuclear reactions and temperature?

What role does uranium-235 and plutonium-239 play in nuclear fission?

How does the process of nuclear fission produce energy?

What is the main component of a Nuclear Power Plant?

Which type of reactor allows for complete freedom to inspect and maintain the turbine, feed heaters, and condenser during operation?

What is a disadvantage of a Boiling Water Reactor compared to a Pressurized Water Reactor?

Which part of the Pressurized Water Reactor is responsible for keeping the water at high pressure to prevent boiling?

What is a characteristic of water in a Pressurized Water Reactor?

Why does a Pressurized Water Reactor allow for reducing fuel costs?

What problem makes it difficult to reprocess fuel in a Pressurized Water Reactor?

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