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What is primarily responsible for holding the nucleus of an atom together?
Which of the following describes nuclei that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons?
What happens when nuclei break or combine to form more stable nuclei?
Which force would primarily counteract the repulsion between protons in an atomic nucleus?
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What is the mass of a proton or neutron expressed in unified atomic mass units (u)?
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Which energy source primarily relies on the process of fission?
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What energy form results from the equation E=mc² in the context of nuclear reactions?
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What role do electrons play in the stability of an atom's nucleus?
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What process releases energy when elements above iron are split?
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What type of neutron is required to initiate a fission reaction?
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What happens if there are too many thermal neutrons in a reactor?
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How is a chain reaction sustained in a nuclear reactor?
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What is the result of combining elements below iron?
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What is a characteristic of a working reactor?
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What is produced as a result of a fission reaction?
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What is the primary function of coolant in a nuclear reactor?
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What happens to the stability of nuclei as the number of protons (Z) increases beyond 20?
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What is the relationship between mass defect (Δm) and nuclear binding energy?
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In the fission reaction of Uranium-235, what is the mass defect (Δm) measured?
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How much energy is released during the U235 fission reaction, based on the given mass defect?
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What does a higher average binding energy per nucleon indicate about an atom?
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How does the energy released per kilogram of Uranium-235 compare to coal?
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Which of the following correctly represents the energy equivalent of 1 tonne of U235 compared to coal?
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What does the black line represent in the context of nuclear stability?
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What leads to a meltdown in a pressurized water reactor?
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Which of the following incidents is NOT known for a nuclear meltdown?
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Which coolant circuit is described as 'closed' in a pressurized water reactor?
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What is the main consequence of a meltdown in a nuclear reactor?
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Which event marks the earliest of the three meltdowns listed?
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What does increased heat in the reactor core primarily indicate?
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What type of reactor is a pressurized water reactor?
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How many meltdowns are cited as significant occurrences?
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What was a key immediate cause of the Chernobyl meltdown?
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What is the primary composition of high-level nuclear waste?
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How long is long-term storage required for high-level nuclear waste?
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Which fusion reaction requires a lower temperature?
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What is the main reason for the rapid growth of nuclear power followed by stagnation?
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Which isotope of hydrogen is not commonly involved in fusion reactions?
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Which type of nuclear waste is characterized as slightly radioactive?
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What causes a steam explosion during a nuclear meltdown?
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Study Notes
Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear energy originates from the strong nuclear force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom.
- When nuclei break apart (fission) or combine (fusion) to form more stable nuclei with higher binding energy, energy is released.
- The strong nuclear force overcomes the electromagnetic force of repulsion between protons, holding the nucleus together.
- The mass of a nucleus is always less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons, this difference in mass is called the mass defect.
- The mass defect is related to the nuclear binding energy via Einstein’s formula: E= 𝚫mc2.
Fission
- Fission occurs when a heavy nucleus, like uranium-235, is bombarded with a neutron, causing it to split into lighter nuclei and release energy.
- The fission of 1 kg of uranium-235 releases approximately 10¹⁴ J of energy, which is orders of magnitude higher than the energy released by chemical reactions.
- Fission reactions are controlled in nuclear reactors by using control rods to absorb neutrons and regulate the chain reaction.
Fusion
- Fusion is the process of combining two light nuclei, like deuterium and tritium, to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.
- The DT reaction (deuterium + tritium) is preferred for fusion because it requires a lower temperature (10⁸ K) compared to the DD reaction (3 x 10⁸ K).
- Fusion reactions have the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy.
Nuclear Waste
- Nuclear waste is a byproduct of nuclear reactions and can be classified into high-level, intermediate-level, and low-level waste based on radioactivity.
- High-level waste, primarily spent fuel, requires long-term storage for thousands of years due to its high radioactivity.
- The first underground long-term storage facility for high-level waste is currently under construction in Finland.
Reactor Safety
- Meltdowns occur when the reactor core overheats and melts, leading to the release of radioactive material.
- Three major meltdowns have occurred: Chernobyl (1986), Three Mile Island (1979), and Fukushima (2011).
- Immediate causes of meltdowns include loss of coolant and control rod malfunctions.
Four Fundamental Forces
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The four fundamental forces of nature are:
- Gravity
- Electromagnetism
- Weak Nuclear Force
- Strong Nuclear Force
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These forces govern interactions between particles and are related to energy:
- Gravity: Hydro, dams, tidal
- Electromagnetism: Gas, fossil fuels, wood, coal, hydrogen, batteries, electricity
- Weak Nuclear Force: Nuclear batteries
- Strong Nuclear Force: Fission, sun, geothermal
Binding Energy per Nucleon
- The higher the binding energy per nucleon, the more stable the nucleus.
- Splitting elements above iron releases energy (fission).
- Combining elements below iron releases energy (fusion), leading to the potential for nuclear power.
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Description
Explore the fundamentals of nuclear energy, including its origin from the strong nuclear force and the processes of fission and fusion. This quiz covers essential concepts related to mass defect and binding energy, as well as the energy released during fission reactions.
