Science Section: Quiz 28

In which state did the Three Mile Island accident occur?

*a. Pennsylvania* b. Illinois c. California d. Ohio e. Florida

Which of the following statements does NOT describe the Chernobyl accident?

*a. The Chernobyl accident released 400 times less radioactive material than the bombing of Hiroshima.* (400 times *more*) b. The Chernobyl accident increased concerns about nuclear power, even in the United States. c. Thirty-one people died as a result of the Chernobyl accident. d. Soviet and American reactor designs differed significantly, making the Chernobyl accident unlikely in the United States. e. Many people needed to be relocated away from the radioactive material from Chernobyl.

Which fruit provides the BEST comparison for the critical mass of weapons-grade uranium-235?

*a. cantaloupe* b. grapefruit c. apple d. watermelon e. orange

The two MAIN methods of achieving critical mass are the

*a. gun-type method and implosion method* b. conventional method and explosion method c. sub-critical method and unconventional method d. critical method and safe method e. fission method and fusion method

Which of the following definitions BEST explains critical mass?

*a. the minimum amount of fissile material needed to create and maintain a nuclear chain reaction* b. the maximum amount of fissile material an atomic bomb can have c. the amount of uranium needed to power a nuclear power plant d. the size fuel rods must be to effectively generate power at a nuclear power plant e. the mass of uranium required to make an atomic bomb

All of the following measurements could be comparable to the total energy produced by a fission bomb EXCEPT

a. 1 ton of TNT b. 0.93 tons of TNT c. 500,000 tons of TNT *d. 737,000 tons of TNT* (below a single ton of TNT to 500,000 tons of TNT) e. 435,000 tons of TNT

Reactor-grade uranium would MOST likely be enriched

a. 6% b. 90% c. 31% *d. 3%* e. 11%

Which safety precaution was taken immediately after the earthquake that caused the Fukushima Daiichi?

a. Everyone left the plant. b. Coolant was increased. *c. Control rods were inserted into the coolant.* d. Fuel rods were inserted into the coolant. e. Operators shut down the entire plant.

Which nuclear disaster is generally considered the WORST in history?

a. Sosnovy Bor b. Three Mile Island c. SL-1 d. Fukushima Daiichi *e. Chernobyl*

Which of the following explanations concerning critical mass is NOT true?

a. The gun-type method fires two subcritical pieces together using conventional explosives. b. The implosion method increases the density of a subcritical mass above criticality. c. Critical mass is always achieved at the instant of detonation. *d. Critical mass is essential in forming nuclear fusion bombs.* e. The implosion method uses explosives to compress a subcritical mass inward.

Which of the following events during the Three Mile Island nuclear accident came FIRST?

a. The secondary loop boiled off. (3) b. Residual reactions continued to generate heat. (2) c. Water flooded the containment structure. (5) d. The primary loop increased in temperature and pressure. (4) *e. The reactor was turned off.* (1)

Which of the following statements is NOT true of nuclear weapons?

a. They operate above criticality. b. Their energy output grows exponentially, until they run out of fuel. c. They release as much energy as possible as quickly as possible. d. They rely entirely on nuclear fission. *e. They are designed to be similar to nuclear reactors.* (nuclear reactors are designed to maintain a constant power output)

Which of the following problems BEST describes a nuclear meltdown?

a. a fire at a nuclear power plant b. the decomposition of a plant's fuel rods *c. an overheating of nuclear fuel* d. an unintended nuclear bomb e. an explosion of nuclear material

Which piece of the nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island triggered the disaster when it suddenly shut down?

a. a generator *b. a water pump* c. the primary coolant loop d. a turbine e. the secondary coolant loop

Which of the following errors BEST explains the origins of the Chernobyl accident?

a. a water pump failure led to a flooded containment structure b. overheated fuel rods c. a flawed cooling system design d. an earthquake combined with a tsunami *e. a flawed reactor combined with operating errors*

Which action did Japan perform on all of its nuclear plants immediately after Fukushima?

a. decommissioning them b. adding safety staff c. changing the type of fissile material *d. temporarily shutting them down* e. decreasing amounts of fissile material

Three Mile Island largely affected

a. human health b. global climate change *c. public opinion about nuclear power* d. public perception of the government e. countries' relationships with the United States

Which of the following problems would MOST likely cause an explosion during a nuclear accident?

a. insufficiently enriched uranium b. overheated nuclear fuel *c. pressure buildup* d. low levels of uranium-235 e. a nuclear meltdown

Which phrase BEST describes the negative health impacts from Fukushima Daiichi?

a. relatively large b. relatively small c. disastrous *d. too small to detect* e. moderate

Which radioactive element did the Nagasaki atomic bomb use?

a. uranium *b. plutonium* c. radium d. einsteinium e. polonium