Nuclear Fission Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. What is nuclear fission?
- A. The joining of two light nuclei
- B. The splitting of a large unstable nucleus with release of energy
- C. The decay of a nucleus by emitting an alpha particle
- D. The absorption of a neutron with no further change
2. Which two substances are used as fuel for nuclear fission?
- A. Hydrogen and helium
- B. Carbon-14 and uranium-238
- C. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239
- D. Iron and cobalt
3. What triggers a uranium-235 nucleus to undergo fission?
- A. Absorbing a neutron
- B. Absorbing a proton
- C. Emitting an electron
- D. Colliding with another uranium nucleus
4. What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reactor?
- A. To speed up the chain reaction as much as possible
- B. To absorb neutrons so on average only one neutron per fission causes further fission
- C. To cool the reactor core with water
- D. To provide the neutrons needed to start fission
5. A student says nuclear waste is only a short-term problem because it stops being radioactive within a few days. Why is this incorrect?
- A. Nuclear waste is not actually radioactive at all
- B. Nuclear waste can remain radioactive for a very long time, requiring careful long-term disposal
- C. Nuclear waste becomes non-radioactive instantly after fission
- D. Nuclear waste's radioactivity increases over time indefinitely