Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
21 Nuclear Energy
Practice 21.1 (p. 288) (c) Fission products are usually radioactive
1 B and a lot of radiation is given off during
2 C fission. They could be harmful to the
11
10 environment when they are not handled
Mass of U-235 required = 10
= 1.39 g
7.2 × 10 with great care. On the other hand, fusion
3 B products are safe to the environment. For
4 B example, in 21 H + 31 H → 42 He + 01 n , He-4
5 Since both α particles and uranium nuclei are and neutrons are not radioactive.
positively charged, the electrostatic repulsion 8 (a) By E = mc2,
between α particles and uranium nuclei is very E = 1.99 × 1030 × (3 ×108)2
large. Hence, it is very difficult for α particles = 1.791 × 1047 J
to get close to uranium nuclei and break them. Energy of 1.791 × 1047 J will be released.
6 From the total number of protons, E
(b) By t = ,
92 + 0 = a + 37 + 3 × 0 P
a = 55 1.791 × 10 47
t= = 4.59 × 1020 s
From the total mass number, 3.90 × 10 26
235 + 1 = 143 + b + 3 × 1 = 1.46 × 1013 years
b = 90 The remaining life of the Sun is
7 (a) For nuclear fission, the fuel (fissile 1.46 × 1013 years.
materials) has a large mass number, e.g. (c) The estimate in (b) is longer than the
U-235 and Pu-239. For nuclear fusion, the actual remaining life of the Sun. It is
fuel has a small mass number, e.g. H-1, H- because only a fraction of the mass of the
2 and H-3. Sun will be converted into energy when
(b) Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion the Sun undergoes fusion.
can give out a large amount of energy.
However, with the same mass of fuel, the Practice 21.2 (p. 297)
energy produced by fusion is more than 1 B
that by fission. 2 D
3 (a) Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity Mass of uranium fuel used
produces greenhouse gases, like CO2 and 4.32 × 1014
=
SO2, and ashes. 8.64 × 1013
Using nuclear power does not produce = 5 kg
greenhouse gases, but the nuclear waste is
radioactive and it is difficult to handle Revision exercise 21
nuclear waste. Multiple-choice (p. 301)
(b) Nuclear power plants generally have high Section A
safety standards because the high radiation 1 D
level near the station is harmful to living 2 D
things when there is any serious accident. 3 C
However, burning fossil fuels has much 4 D
fewer safety issues.
(c) The reserve of nuclear fuel is huge, while Section B
the reserve of fossil fuels will soon be 5 D
exhausted. 6 C
4 For a nuclear reactor, the chain reaction is 7 D
controlled by a moderator and control rods
inside the reactor, and the chain reaction can Conventional (p. 301)
either speed up and cool down by the control Section A
of the above two components. 1 (a) Radioactive decay occurs randomly (1A)
For an atomic bomb, nothing inside the bomb while nuclear fission should be triggered.
controls the chain reaction. Once the (1A)
radioactive source reaches the critical mass, In each radioactive decay, the mother
uncontrolled chain reaction starts, releasing a nucleus forms a single new nucleus; (1A)
huge amount of heat and nuclear radiation. however, in each nuclear fission, the heavy
5 (a) For each reactor, by E = Pt, nucleus splits to form more than one
E = 5 × 109 × 8 × 60 × 60 smaller nuclei. (1A)
= 1.44 × 1014 J (Accept other reasonable answers.)
The energy supplied by the power stations (b) When a neutron collides with a uranium
= 1.44 × 1014 × 3 = 4.32 × 1014 J nucleus, the uranium nucleus splits in a
(b) Energy supplied by 1 kg of uranium in the nuclear fission and neutrons are emitted.
reactor (1A)
= 2.88 × 1014 × 30% = 8.64 × 1013 J The emitted neutrons carry on splitting
other uranium nuclei and a chain reaction
is resulted. (1A)
1 235 92 141
The nuclear energy generated per unit (c) 0n + 92 U → 36 Kr + 56 Ba + 3 01 n + energy
mass of fuel is huge. (1A)
No greenhouse gas, like CO2 and SO2, and (d) If the outgoing neutrons collide with other
ashes is produced. U-235 nuclides, those U-235 nuclides
The reserve of nuclear fuel is huge. would undergo fission and produce more
Disadvantages of nuclear power stations, neutrons that can induce fission of other
any two of the following: (2 × 1A) U-235 nuclides. (1A)
Nuclear waste is radioactive and it is In this way, fission reaction can carry on
difficult to handle nuclear waste. and it forms a chain reaction. (1A)
After accidents, the rise of the radiation Since the number of neutrons produced
level near a nuclear power station is grows, the rate of reaction grows and more
harmful to human. and more heat is generated. (1A)
The maintenance cost of a nuclear power If heat is generated fast enough, explosion
plant is high. may occur. (1A)
(d) reactor, heat exchanger, steam, generator (For effective communication.) (1C)
(4 × 1A) (e) The nuclear energy changes into heat.(1A)
(f) Advantages (any two of the following):
Section B (2 × 1A)
8 (a) This nuclear power station uses nuclear Since only small amount of nuclear fuel is
fusion. (1A) used in nuclear power station, the fuel
(b) X is a neutron. (1A) transportation problem is small.
2 3 4 1 The nuclear energy generated per unit
1H + 1H → 2 He + 0n
mass of fuel is huge.
(Correct symbols for the nuclides.) (1A)
The reserve of nuclear fuel is huge.
(Correct mass numbers and atomic
No greenhouse gas, like CO2 and SO2, and
numbers.) (1A)
ashes is produced by nuclear power
(Correct presentation of equation.) (1A)
station.
(c) The total mass of the nuclei before
Disadvantages (any two of the following):
reaction is greater than that after reaction.
(2 × 1A)
(1A)
Nuclear waste is radioactive and it is
(d) Nuclear fusion can provide a very cheap,
difficult to handle nuclear waste.
abundant and safer source of energy. (1A)
If serious accidents (e.g. meltdown of a
The waste product of nuclear fusion is
reactor) happen, the high radiation level
inert and non-radioactive. (1A)
near the nuclear power plant is harmful to
(Accept other reasonable answers.)
living things.
9 (a) Nuclear fission (1A)
The maintenance cost of a nuclear power
(b) X is a neutron. (1A)
plant is high.