NUCE 304 Week 1: Nuclear Energy Evaluation

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary result of nuclear fission?

Absorption of neutrons

Stability of atomic nuclei

Release of nuclear binding energy (correct)

Formation of a neutron star

What is necessary for a nuclear chain reaction to be self-sustaining?

High temperatures only

A critical mass of material (correct)

Constant external energy supply

Absence of neutrons

What was the significance of the first controlled nuclear chain reaction on December 2, 1942?

It marked the discovery of nuclear fusion.

It led to the creation of the first atomic bomb.

It demonstrated the feasibility of using nuclear energy for peace.

It initiated the Nuclear Age. (correct)

Which of the following describes the products of nuclear fission?

Fission products include fission fragments and neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

How is heat generated during nuclear fission?

By kinetic energy conversion of fission fragments Signup and view all the answers

What was the first nuclear device detonated in July 1945 known as?

The Gadget Signup and view all the answers

Which nuclear weapon was dropped on Hiroshima?

Little Boy Signup and view all the answers

What significant development in nuclear technology occurred in 1946?

The light-water reactor patent Signup and view all the answers

Which president proposed the 'Atoms for Peace' initiative at the United Nations?

Dwight D. Eisenhower Signup and view all the answers

What purpose did the US Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) serve after its establishment?

To oversee nuclear energy for civilian use Signup and view all the answers

What unexpected behavior was observed when uranium was subjected to neutron-absorption experiments?

It resulted in a complex mixture of radioactive products. Signup and view all the answers

What discovery did Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann make in December 1938 regarding uranium?

They identified the fission process that produced lighter elements. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about neutron types is true according to the content?

Slow neutrons are absorbed more efficiently than fast neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What role did Lise Meitner play in the understanding of nuclear fission?

She explained how neutrons destabilized the uranium nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental concept did Neil Bohr contribute to the explanation of nuclear fission?

The Liquid Drop Model for the nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significant outcome of the 1954 Atomic Energy Act in the USA?

It established the government's responsibility for radioactive waste disposal. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was the world's first nuclear power plant?

Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant Signup and view all the answers

What notable feature did Calder Hall Unit-1 have upon its launch in 1956?

It was a graphite-moderated reactor with a capacity of 50 MWe. Signup and view all the answers

When did the first US commercial nuclear power plant become operational?

1957 Signup and view all the answers

Which country launched its first nuclear reactor in 1956?

France Signup and view all the answers

Apart from military uses and electricity generation, for what purpose are research reactors utilized?

To produce radioisotopes for agriculture and medicine. Signup and view all the answers

Which application of nuclear technology is NOT mentioned in the content?

Nuclear Propulsion for Ships Signup and view all the answers

When did China first develop its nuclear power reactor?

1994 Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of energy?

The capacity to do work Signup and view all the answers

Which energy transformation occurs in hydroelectric power generation?

Potential Energy to Kinetic/Mechanical Energy Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary energy used in photovoltaic systems to generate electrical energy?

Solar Energy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following energy types is generated through the Rankine Cycle process?

Thermal Energy to Electrical Energy Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly reflects the Law of Conservation of Energy?

Energy is neither created nor destroyed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists the types of energy in the correct order of conversion for hydroelectric power generation?

Potential Energy → Kinetic/Mechanical Energy → Electrical Energy Signup and view all the answers

What role does a turbine play in the Rankine Cycle?

Transform mechanical energy into electrical energy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a source of kinetic energy for electricity generation?

Wind Power Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of a Responsible Nuclear Energy Program (RNEP)?

Integrated Safety, Security, and Safeguard (3S) Framework Signup and view all the answers

Which is NOT a topic covered in Week 1 of the course?

International Nonproliferation Regime Signup and view all the answers

What scientific principle is associated with the equation E = mc^2?

Energy-Mass Equivalence Signup and view all the answers

What role do neutrons play in an atom?

Contribute to its mass and create isotopes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary objective of international safeguards?

Preventing nuclear proliferation Signup and view all the answers

In the context of nuclear energy, systems thinking relates primarily to which of the following?

Analyzing the interactions within the 3S framework Signup and view all the answers

The discovery of the neutron was pivotal in nuclear science primarily because it allowed for what?

The transmutation of elements Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is primarily responsible for overseeing international nuclear safeguards?

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Signup and view all the answers

What is a major focus during the Capstone Research Projects?

Conducting independent research and presenting findings Signup and view all the answers

Which element contributes to the determination of an atom's elemental identity?

Proton Signup and view all the answers

In which year was the first controlled nuclear chain reaction achieved?

1942 Signup and view all the answers

Which subatomic particle orbits the nucleus of an atom?

Electron Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical characteristic of the Safety aspect of the 3S framework?

Protection of human health Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the first nuclear power plant in 1954?

It marked the beginning of civilian nuclear power generation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Course Title: Evaluative Methods for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Security
Course Code: NUCE 304
Instructor: Dr. Ahmed Alkaabi
Institution: Khalifa University

Week 1 Learning Objectives & Topics

Applying critical thinking, the scientific method, and a systems approach to managing a Responsible Nuclear Energy Program (RNEP) within an Integrated Safety, Security, and Safeguard (3S) Framework
A Responsible Nuclear Energy Program (RNEP) with a strong Safety, Security, and Safeguard (3S) Framework can be developed and maintained through a Systems Approach and Critical Thinking Skills

Week 1 Topics

A Brief History of Nuclear Technology Development
The Need for Electricity
Types, Components, and Economics of Nuclear Power
Introduction to Responsible Nuclear Energy Program
Critical Thinking
Scientific Method
Systems Thinking
Responsible Nuclear Energy Programs as a System
Managing RNEP & Decision Making
Introduction to the Capstone

Weeks 1-4: Technical Foundations

Conceptual Foundations
Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Apply the Scientific Method
Use a Systems Approach to problem solving
Responsible nuclear energy program & 3S culture
Physical Foundations
Understand nuclear-energy generation, radiation fundamentals, reactor operations
Policy Foundations
Describe the nuclear fuel cycle
International nonproliferation regime

Learning Objectives - 3S

Safeguards (Weeks 5 & 6): Understand technical and operational objectives of International Safeguards; describe its role in a responsible nuclear energy program and how they relate to 3S
Safety (Weeks 7 & 8): Understand technical and operational objectives of Nuclear Safety; describe its role in a responsible nuclear energy program and how it relates to 3S
Security (Weeks 9 & 10): Understand technical and operational objectives of Nuclear Security; describe its role in a responsible nuclear energy program and how it relates to 3S

Learning Objectives - CAPSTONE

Weeks 11-13: Guided & Independent Study for Capstone Project; Develop project topic & research outline; Capstone Research; Complete research paper and presentation for Symposium; Dry runs of Capstone presentations

A History of Firsts

E=mc²: Energy-Mass Equivalence (1905)
Neutron Discovered (1932)
Fission Discovered (1938)
First Accident Involving Nuclear Material (1942)
First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction (1942)
First Nuclear Detonation (1945)
First Nuclear Weapons (1945)
First Death from a Nuclear-criticality Accident (1945)
First Nuclear Electricity (1951)
First Nuclear Reactor Accident (1952)
First Nuclear Power Plant (1954)
First Nuclear Propulsion (1954)
First Nuclear Reactor in Space (1965)
First 1,000 MW(e) Nuclear Power Plant (1974)
First Major Accident at a Civilian NPP (1979)
First Space Mission Powered by Plutonium RTG (1979)
First NPP in an Arab Country: UAE (construction began 2012)

Atomic Structure

Atom: Smallest subdivision of matter retaining chemical identity
Nucleus: Positively charged core composed of neutrons and protons
Electron: Negatively charged subatomic particle orbiting the nucleus
Proton: Positively charged subatomic particle in the nucleus
Neutron: Neutrally charged subatomic particle in the nucleus

Early History (1930s)

Neutron discovery (James Chadwick, 1932)
Used to probe matter, penetrating nuclei
Creation of new elements ("transmutation")
Uranium bombarded with neutrons (science teams in France, Italy, Germany)
Attempts to synthesise heavier elements, slow neutrons absorbed efficiently than fast neutrons
Uranium's unexpected behavior (complex mixture of radioactive products, difficult to characterize as heavier than uranium). Chemical properties resembled many known, but much lighter elements, no known process to produce lighter elements from heavier ones

Early History (1938)

Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann discovered uranium fission in December 1938
Uranium bombarded with neutrons produces elements with roughly half the original mass of the uranium. First verified Barium in the reaction products
Lise Meitner explained the process of fission
Neutrons absorbed by the nucleus added energy, destabilized the nucleus.
Neil Bohr's Liquid Drop Model explained fission

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Binding Energy: E=mc²
Some nuclei absorb neutrons, split (fission)
Fission fragments or products
Fission releases nuclear binding energy (E=mc²)
Imparts kinetic energy to fission fragments and neutrons
Heat generated from kinetic energy conversion; fission fragments slow down
Results of fission: Energy, Fission Fragments, Neutrons

Nuclear Chain Reaction

Neutrons fission more nuclei. Fission keeps repeating. Self-sustaining. Critical Mass: mass sufficient to sustain fission
Heat from sustained fission generates electricity

First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction

CP-1 ("went critical") December 2, 1942, Chicago Pile no. 1
First man-made reactor led by Enrico Fermi
Manhattan Project

Nuclear Weapon Development

Nuclear fission discovered during World War II; military applications recognized
Weapon Development; US Army Manhattan Project; feared German advantage
First nuclear device detonated (July 1945, Trinity Test, New Mexico, USA, "The Gadget", Plutonium device)
First Nuclear Weapons used in War (August 6 & 9, 1945, Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japan, "Little Boy" (uranium bomb) & “Fat Man” (plutonium bomb), ~120,000 people perished, Japan surrendered)

Commercial Nuclear Reactor Development

1946: Light-water reactor (LWR) patented; thorium & uranium-233; Alvin Weinberg design. Tested at Shippingport, Pennsylvania in 1957
1951: First nuclear-powered electricity (four light bulbs)
1954: Atomic Energy Act (USA); peaceful uses of atomic energy; radioactive waste disposal under government responsibility; World's first nuclear power plant: Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant (USSR)
1956: First Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in UK: Calder Hall Unit-1
1957: First US commercial NPP: Shippingport, Pennsylvania; first commercial-only NPP
Other countries' first power reactors: France (1956); Canada (1962); Sweden (1964); Japan (1965); Pakistan (1972); India (1973); S. Korea (1978); Taiwan (1978); China (1994)

Other Uses For Nuclear Technologies

Research Reactors: Radioisotope production; agriculture, medical, and industrial applications; materials characterization; basic science; teaching
Medical: Radiation Therapy; Geological Exploration; Oil & gas; Space Power Sources

Why do we need Electricity?

How do We Generate Electric Power?

Principles of generating electricity

Energy Basics

Energy: Capacity to do work
Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy is neither created nor destroyed
Common Types of Energy: Potential Energy, Thermal Energy, Kinetic/Mechanical Energy, Electrical Energy
Conversion of existing energy into electrical energy

Generating Electricity From Water Power

Potential Energy → Kinetic/Mechanical Energy → Electrical Energy
Hydroelectric Power Generation (Diagram)

Generating Electricity From Wind Power

Wind (Kinetic) Energy → Mechanical Energy → Electrical Energy

Generating Electricity Using Photovoltaics

Solar Energy → Electrical Energy (Diagram)

Rankine Cycle

Thermodynamic basis for a steam engine; named for William Rankine
Heat (thermal energy) → mechanical energy → electrical energy (Turbine)
Closed Loop; "working fluid" (usually water)
Rankine Cycle generates ~80% electric power: solar-thermal, biomass, gas, coal, nuclear

Rankine Cycle Process (1)

Pump (cold) working fluid (low to high pressure)
Fluid enters Boiler; heated by external heat source (Qin); Liquid vaporizes ("saturated" vapor) (Diagram)

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Description

This quiz assesses your understanding of the foundational concepts presented in Week 1 of the Evaluative Methods for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Security course. It covers critical thinking, the scientific method, and the systems approach in the context of a Responsible Nuclear Energy Program. Prepare to demonstrate your knowledge on nuclear technology and its implications for safety and security.