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| Question | Answer |
| What do Nuclear reactors use rods of? | Uranium that are rich in U-235 for fuel and U-238 |
| What type of reaction do fission reactors produce? | A chain reaction The fission produces more neutrons which then induce other nuclei to fission |
| When will neutrons cause a chain reaction? | When they are slowed down Allows them to be captured by the uranium nuclei |
| What are these slowed down neutrons called? | Thermal neutrons |
| What must the U-235 rods be placed in? | A moderator such as water to slow down/absorb neutrons |
| What type of moderator must you use? | One which will slow down some neutrons enough so they can cause further fission and keep the reaction going at a steady rate |
| What happens if you choose a moderator which absorbs more neutrons at a higher temperature? | It will decrease the chance of meltdown if the reactor overheats as it will naturally slow down the reaction |
| What is the critical mass? | The amount of fuel to keep the reaction going at a steady rate where one fission follows another |
| What happens if you have any less then the critical mass (sub-critical mass) ? | The reaction will just peter out |
| What mass of fuel do Nuclear reactors use? | A super-critical mass Where several new fission's normally follow each fission |
| What do Nuclear reactors do to control the rate of fission? | Use control rods |
| How do control rods control the chain reaction? | By limiting the number of neutrons in the reactor. These absorb neutrons so that the rate of fission is controlled |
| What are control rods made up of? | A material which absorbs neutrons eg. boron |
| In an emergency what will the reactor do? | Shut down automatically by the release of the control rods into the reactor which will stop the reaction as soon as posssible |
| What does coolant do? | sent around the reactor to remove the heat produced by the fission |
| What material is the coolant? | Often the same water that is being used in the reactor as the moderator |
| What can the heat from the reactor be used for? | To make stream for powering electricity-generating turbines |
| What is the nuclear reactor surrounded by? | A thick concrete case which acts as shielding |
| What does the shielding do? | Prevents radiation escaping and reaching the people who work in the power stations |
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