Questions about Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power – Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the primary purpose of a nuclear power plant?
A) To split hydrogen atoms
B) To produce fossil fuels
C) To convert nuclear energy into electrical energy
D) To manufacture nuclear weapons
E) To perform space research
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2. Which process is used to generate energy in most nuclear power plants?
A) Nuclear fusion
B) Nuclear decay
C) Nuclear fission
D) Chemical combustion
E) Electrolysis
3. Which element is most commonly used as fuel in nuclear reactors?
A) Hydrogen
B) Helium
C) Uranium-235
D) Carbon-14
E) Plutonium-239
4. What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reactor?
A) To cool the reactor
B) To absorb neutrons and control the fission rate
C) To speed up the reaction
D) To convert heat into electricity
E) To remove waste
5. Which part of a nuclear power plant transfers heat from the reactor to the turbines?
A) Generator
B) Fuel rods
C) Cooling tower
D) Heat exchanger
E) Containment vessel
6. What is a potential advantage of nuclear power over fossil fuels?
A) Produces more air pollution
B) Emits more greenhouse gases
C) Requires more mining
D) Generates large amounts of energy with low carbon emissions
E) Runs entirely on renewable energy
7. What is a major concern with nuclear power plants?
A) Lack of available fuel
B) Production of soot
C) Emission of CO₂
D) Management of radioactive waste
E) Overconsumption of water
8. What happens during nuclear fission?
A) Two atoms join to form one heavier atom
B) One atom splits into smaller atoms, releasing energy
C) Electrons are added to atoms
D) Protons leave the nucleus
E) Neutrons are removed without energy change
9. What is the function of a moderator in a nuclear reactor?
A) To produce electricity
B) To remove radioactive waste
C) To slow down neutrons
D) To cool down the reactor
E) To enrich uranium
10. Which country was the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986?
A) Russia
B) Germany
C) Ukraine
D) China
E) USA
11. What type of energy transformation occurs in a nuclear power plant?
A) Electrical to thermal
B) Chemical to electrical
C) Nuclear to thermal to mechanical to electrical
D) Mechanical to chemical
E) Nuclear to gravitational
12. Which of the following is a benefit of nuclear power?
A) Renewable fuel
B) No radioactive waste
C) Continuous energy supply
D) No cooling needed
E) Cheap and abundant uranium everywhere
13. What is the purpose of the containment structure in a nuclear reactor?
A) To store fuel
B) To house turbines
C) To prevent radiation from escaping
D) To keep water clean
E) To cool the reactor
14. What is enriched uranium?
A) Uranium with more oxygen
B) Uranium with high U-238
C) Uranium with increased U-235 concentration
D) Uranium made from fusion
E) Uranium found in seawater
15. Which organization regulates nuclear energy in many countries?
A) WHO
B) IAEA
C) IMF
D) UNDP
E) NASA
16. What do spent fuel rods contain?
A) Pure uranium
B) Non-radioactive material
C) Low-energy isotopes
D) Radioactive waste
E) Stable isotopes
17. Which of the following best describes nuclear waste?
A) Easily biodegradable
B) Short half-life materials
C) Environmentally friendly gas
D) Hazardous radioactive material
E) Harmless ash
18. What is one disadvantage of nuclear power?
A) High CO₂ emissions
B) Noise pollution
C) Risk of catastrophic accidents
D) High sulfur dioxide emissions
E) Excess water production
19. How is electricity generated from steam in nuclear power plants?
A) By burning the steam
B) Using a steam turbine
C) Freezing it
D) Ionizing it
E) Running steam through solar panels
20. Why is nuclear power considered a low-carbon energy source?
A) Because it uses hydrogen
B) It captures carbon during fission
C) It does not burn fossil fuels
D) It uses only natural gas
E) It emits methane instead of CO₂
Answer Key with Extended Explanations
1. C – Nuclear power plants convert nuclear energy into usable electricity.
2. C – Nuclear fission (splitting of nuclei) is used to produce heat for electricity generation.
3. C – Uranium-235 is the most common fuel due to its ability to sustain a chain reaction.
4. B – Control rods absorb neutrons to regulate the rate of fission.
5. D – The heat exchanger transfers heat to water to generate steam for turbines.
6. D – Nuclear power generates large energy amounts with very low greenhouse gas emissions.
7. D – Managing and disposing of radioactive waste is a major environmental concern.
8. B – Fission involves splitting of a nucleus, releasing energy and more neutrons.
9. C – Moderators slow down neutrons to sustain the chain reaction efficiently.
10. C – Chernobyl was located in Ukraine (then part of the USSR).
11. C – The energy conversion path is: nuclear → thermal → mechanical → electrical.
12. C – Nuclear plants can produce constant energy regardless of weather or time.
13. C – The containment structure ensures radiation doesn’t leak to the environment.
14. C – Enriched uranium has more U-235 to support efficient fission reactions.
15. B – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversees global nuclear energy use.
16. D – Spent rods contain radioactive materials and are considered nuclear waste.
17. D – Nuclear waste remains hazardous for thousands of years due to radiation.
18. C – Nuclear accidents can have serious long-term effects (e.g., Fukushima, Chernobyl).
19. B – Steam spins turbines, which drive generators to produce electricity.
20. C – Nuclear plants do not combust fossil fuels, making them low-carbon emitters.
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