Ch 20 Nuclear Energy & The Env

Front 1

Nuclear Energy

Back 1

energy of the atomic nucleus

Front 2

2 Nuclear processes used to release energy

Back 2

Fission
Fusion

Front 3

Fission

Back 3

the splitting of atomic nuclei

Front 4

Nuclear fusion

Back 4

fusing or combining of atomic nuclei

Front 5

Nuclear reactors

Back 5

devices that produce controlled nuclear fission

Front 6

What is the role of the reactor within a nuclear power plant?

Back 6

it provides heat

Front 7

What role does water serve within the core of a commercial nuclear reactor?

Back 7

water "moderates" or slows down neutrons emitted by radioactive decay

Front 8

Polonium-218 has a half-life of about 3 minutes. If 120 grams of the material is sealed into a lead container at exactly 5:00 pm, how many grams of it will be found when the container is opened at exactly 5:09 pm?

Back 8

15

Front 9

All of the following are problems or objections to building nuclear breeder reactors EXCEPT that breeder reactors:
A. are more expensive to build
B. are more expensive to run
C. produce ingredients necessary for construction of nuclear weapons
D. use a fuel, which will also eventually become depleted
E. are not economically feasible

Back 9

D

Front 10

The principal objection to, or problem with, the use of fusion energy is

Back 10

the temperatures and pressures required for sustained reactions are beyond current technology

Front 11

At the present time, the method for handling high-level nuclear waste in the U.S. is

Back 11

temporary storage, pending completion of a safe, permanent disposal site

Front 12

At the present time, nuclear energy accounts for about % of the electricity generated in the United States

Back 12

20

Front 13

The energy retained by living tissue that has been exposed to radiation is called

Back 13

radiation absorbed dose

Front 14

U-238 and U-235 are two different isotopes of uranium

Back 14

true

Front 15

A radioactive isotope is a chemical element that undergoes spontaneous radioactive decay

Back 15

true

Front 16

The series of different forms that a radioisotope takes during its lifetime is known as its decay chain

Back 16

true

Front 17

When radioactive uranium decays, it passes through a series of decay steps and ends up as a stable non-radioactive isotope of lead

Back 17

true

Front 18

The worst accident in the history of commercial nuclear power happened in 1986 at

Back 18

Chernobyl, Ukraine

Front 19

Breeder reactors use as a fuel

Back 19

plutonium

Front 20

Nuclear power plants do not emit and therefore do not contribute to global warming

Back 20

carbon dioxide

Front 21

Nuclear reactors produce energy through the process of

Back 21

fission

Front 22

The joining of low-mass atoms to form heavier nuclei is known as

Back 22

fusion

Front 23

The fuel for nuclear fission in commercial burner reactors is

Back 23

uranium

Front 24

At present, we do not use nuclear fusion because the current is insufficient

Back 24

technology

Front 25

Compared to other countries, the U.S. uses much (less/more) electricity

Back 25

more

Front 26

refers to the energy absorbed by an organism due to radiation exposure

Back 26

radiation exposed dose

Front 27

the process in which a nuclear fuel, such as Uranium, is split into smaller particles plus energy

Back 27

fission

Front 28

unit that signifies one radioactive decay per second

Back 28

becquerel

Front 29

most common fuel for nuclear fission

Back 29

uranium

Front 30

One concern in the U.S. regarding increased use of nuclear energy throughout the world, including in a broad range of developing countries is

Back 30

proliferation of nuclear material that may end up in nuclear weapons

Front 31

If the U.S. is only 14th in the world in percentage of electrical energy generated by nuclear power, how can it be true that the U.S. produces almost twice as much total nuclear energy as its nearest competitor?

Back 31

the U.S. uses much more electricity than any other country

Front 32

common fuel for nuclear FUSION?

Back 32

hydrogen

Front 33

The fuel for nuclear fission in commercial burner reactors is

Back 33

uranium

Front 34

A radioactive isotope is a chemical element that undergoes

Back 34

spontaneous radioactive decay

Front 35

Commercial nuclear reactors produce energy through the process of

Back 35

fission

Front 36

Isotopes are atoms of an element that:

Back 36

have the same atomic number but vary in the atomic mass number

Front 37

Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 are two different

Back 37

isotopes of uranium

Front 38

The joining of light atoms to form heavier nuclei is known as

Back 38

fusion

Front 39

The series of different forms that a radioisotope takes during its lifetime is known as its

Back 39

decay chain