Chapter 27. Chapter 27: Nuclear Power

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Guiding Question 27.3

How is nuclear energy harnessed to generate electricity in a fission reactor?

Why You Should Care

Nuclear energy releases radiation constantly as it decays. This decay can be sped up by packing more radioactive isotopes into smaller and smaller volumes. The released neutrons strike nearby isotopes, and this speeds their decay. This creates a chain reaction of more isotopes decaying and brings radiation up to levels that are usable for power generation.

Reactors control chain reactions by inserting control rods that capture neutrons and slow chain reactions. By slowly removing the control rods, chain reactions of fission increase and release more heat that is used to boil water directly (boiling water reactor, or BWR) or indirectly (pressure water reactor, or PWR).

As long as the boiling water is cooled enough, the water can be recirculated back to absorb more heat from the reactor. The greatest fear of any reactor is a failure to cool water and the reactor beginning to overheat. If the overheating cannot be stopped, the reactor will “melt down” as fission goes out of control and the reactor fails. Numerous safety procedures and backups must be included to ensure this never happens.

Question 1 of 5

1.

Click the area in the diagram that represents the term neutron.

Infographic 27.4
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{"title":"Neutron","description":"","type":"correct","color":"#99CCFF","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"15,120,13\"}]"} {"title":"U-235 Atom","description":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#993300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"177,121,31\"}]"} {"title":"Fission products","description":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"272,45,328,197\"}]"} {"title":"Heat","description":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"209,163,245,215\"}]"} {"title":"Neutrons","description":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#333333","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"405,117,35\"}]"}

6.

Nuclear fission uses chain reactions to speed up decay. What is the source of the neutrons?

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Infographic 27.5 part 1
Infographic 27.5 part 2

9.

Why is water important for both pressure water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs)?

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B.
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D.

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