SP6 Flashcards
What are control rods used for
They absorb neutrons
What is the moderator
It’s inside a reactor core (the moderator is usually water) and it slows down the movement of neutrons
What do fuel rods do
They are the source of uranium
What happens to the energy released in a nuclear reactor
It is transferred to a coolant and then a heat exchanger to make steam
What happens to the steam in a nuclear reactor
The steam drives a turbine to cause a generator to produce electricity
What is the source of energy in the sun
Nuclear fusion
Why does nuclear fusion not happen at room temperature
Nuclear fusion requires a high amount of temperature and pressure to occur
Why does nuclear fusion require so much energy
Because both nuclei are positive so a lot of energy is needed to break this electrostatic repulsion between the two
What happens when an atom absorbs energy?
an electron moves to a higher orbit/the shell that is on the outside of the one it is already on.
What happens when the electron returns to a lower orbit?
the atom emits energy as visible light of a particular wavelength
