Skip to content
MathsGenie logo
Quick links
Open app

Course home

  1. IGCSE
  2. Physics Edexcel
  3. Question bank

Fission and fusion

EasyMediumHard
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
Question 24
a.

Name an element used as fuel in a nuclear fission reactor.

[1]
b.

Explain what is meant by a fission chain reaction.

[2]
c.

Explain why nuclear waste containing fission products must be shielded and stored securely for a very long period.

[2]
d.

Some nuclear reactors use water as a moderator. Describe the main purpose of a moderator.

[1]
e.

The power output of the reactor is controlled using control rods. Explain how inserting control rods affects the rate of nuclear fission.

[2]
f.

A nuclear reactor is cooled with carbon dioxide gas.

The carbon dioxide enters the reactor core at 280∘C280^\circ\text{C}280∘C.

What is this entry temperature in kelvin?

[1]
g.

The gas enters at a pressure of 3.50 MPa and leaves the reactor core at a temperature of 850 K.

Calculate the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas as it leaves the reactor core. Assume that the volume of the gas does not change.

[3]

Fission and fusion Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Fission and fusion