34 Questions
What is the main difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?
Fusion involves the merging of light nuclei, while fission involves heavy atomic nuclei splitting into smaller ones.
Which isotopes are commonly studied for potential energy production through nuclear fusion?
Deuterium and Tritium
What is the result of the fusion of deuterium and tritium?
Helium and a neutron
What is the state of matter called when isotopes of hydrogen are heated to extremely high temperatures?
Plasma
What allows the atomic nuclei to come close enough for fusion to occur in high-temperature plasmas?
Strong nuclear force
What is one of the main technical challenges researchers face in achieving practical nuclear fusion?
Confining the plasma at extremely high temperatures
What is the main function of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant?
Separating the radioactive coolant from non-radioactive water/steam
Why is sodium used as a coolant in some reactor designs?
Sodium retains mechanical strength and purity at high temperatures
What is a major disadvantage of using sodium as a coolant in nuclear reactors?
High compatibility with air and water
In a steam generator, what is the purpose of the secondary side?
To turn water into steam using hot coolant
Why is an intermediate system necessary when using sodium as a coolant?
To separate the active sodium from water
What allows for the conversion of heat produced by nuclear fission into electricity in a nuclear power plant?
Steam generator
What is a disadvantage of BWR mentioned in the text?
Possibility of radioactive contamination in the turbine mechanism
What differentiates a CANDU reactor from light-water reactors (LWRs)?
Heavy water serves as both moderator and coolant
Why is heavy water used as a moderator and coolant in a CANDU reactor?
To minimize the cost of enrichment of uranium
What is the function of sodium in a liquid metal cooled reactor?
To act as a coolant
Which type of reactor has the advantage of not requiring a high-pressure vessel?
CANDU reactor
What is a disadvantage of BWR related to its operation on part load?
Boiling limits power density
What is the key difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission?
Nuclear fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission.
Which process is commonly used in the functioning of nuclear power plants?
Nuclear Fission
What is the role of neutrons in nuclear fission?
To initiate further fusion reactions
Why are fusion reactions considered sustainable for energy production?
More energy is released than consumed in initiating the reaction
What is the primary factor that distinguishes a hydrogen bomb from an atomic bomb?
The principle of operation (fusion vs. fission)
In a nuclear-fueled power-producing system, what is the function of the controlled fission heat source?
Produce thermal energy through fission
What is the relationship between thermonuclear reactions and temperature?
They are dependent on temperature for their occurrence
What role does uranium-235 and plutonium-239 play in nuclear fission?
Initiating the chain reaction
How does the process of nuclear fission produce energy?
By splitting heavy nuclei into lighter ones
What is the main component of a Nuclear Power Plant?
Heat exchanger
Which type of reactor allows for complete freedom to inspect and maintain the turbine, feed heaters, and condenser during operation?
Pressurized water reactor
What is a disadvantage of a Boiling Water Reactor compared to a Pressurized Water Reactor?
Costly heat exchanger circuit
Which part of the Pressurized Water Reactor is responsible for keeping the water at high pressure to prevent boiling?
Pressure vessel
What is a characteristic of water in a Pressurized Water Reactor?
It serves as a moderator and coolant
Why does a Pressurized Water Reactor allow for reducing fuel costs?
By extracting more energy per unit weight of fuel
What problem makes it difficult to reprocess fuel in a Pressurized Water Reactor?
Radiation damage suffered by the fuel
Explore the process of nuclear fusion where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a significant amount of energy. Learn about how this process powers the sun and other stars, compared to nuclear fission. Focus on the fusion of light nuclei, particularly isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium.
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