Bell Ringer
Instructions: Answer the prompt provided by your teacher.
Vocabulary
Instructions: Watch the Science of Nuclear video and listen for the vocabulary words.
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Uranium | noun; a heavy, radioactive metal used as fuel in nuclear reactors because it can release a lot of energy when its atoms are split. | “Here we have our solar system models again representing atoms, but this time of uranium.” |
| Nucleus | noun; the center of an atom, where most of its mass is found | “To unleash the energy, we shatter the nucleus.” |
| Neutrons | noun; an uncharged elementary particle that has a mass nearly equal to that of the proton | “This tiny but very powerful explosion releases neutrons . . . that collide with another nucleus . . .” |
| Chain Reaction | noun phrase; a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes causes additional reactions | “This chain reaction makes the uranium extremely hot, which heats the water around it . . .” |
| Turbine | noun; a machine with blades that spin when moved by steam, water, or air to create mechanical energy | “ . . . creating steam which turns a turbine and turns the generator.” |
| Generator | noun; a machine that turns mechanical energy into electricity | “ . . . creating steam, which turns a turbine and turns the generator.” |
| Megajoule | noun; a unit for measuring energy, equivalent to 1,000,000 Joules | “[Wood] has an energy density of 16 megajoules per kilogram . . .” |
| Nuclear Reactor | noun phrase; a machine where controlled nuclear reactions take place to produce energy | “One nuclear reactor could power an entire city.” |
| Full Capacity | noun phrase; the highest or maximum level at which something can operate or perform | “They can run at full capacity, always on, for a year-and-a-half, on just one load of fuel . . .” |
| Spent Fuel | noun phrase; nuclear fuel that has been used and is no longer efficient in a reactor | “We’ll start with spent fuel, also called nuclear waste.” |
| Dry Cask | noun phrase; large containers used to safely store used radioactive fuel | “ . . . [we] store [spent fuel] for decades at the reactor site in large metal and concrete containers called dry casks.” |
| Radioactivity | noun; the process by which unstable atoms release energy in the form of particles or waves | “[Spent fuel] still contains a huge amount of energy, heat, and radioactivity.” |
| Breeder Reactor | noun phrase; a type of nuclear reactor that makes more fuel than it uses by turning non-fuel material into usable fuel | “There are also proposed breeder reactors, which would burn completely through the fuel, leaving almost no waste at all.” |
| Proliferation | noun; the rapid spread of nuclear materials or technology that can be used to make weapons | “Minimizing proliferation requires diplomacy, cooperation and the sharing of safer technologies . . .” |
| Thorium | noun; a radioactive metallic element that is obtained especially from monazite and is usually associated with rare earths | “Thorium and fusion reactors also produce much less waste, but they are decades away from commercial deployment.” |
| Fusion | noun; a nuclear reaction where two small atoms combine to form a larger atom, releasing energy | “Thorium and fusion reactors also produce much less waste, but they are decades away from commercial deployment.” |
Quiz
Instructions: Circle the correct answer based on what you learned in the Science of Nuclear video.
Q1. What starts the chain reaction in a nuclear reactor?
- steam spinning a turbine
- cooling the uranium with water
- shattering the nucleus of a uranium atom
- burning fossil fuels
Q2. What makes nuclear power different from most other energy sources?
- It’s cheaper to build.
- It runs on solar power.
- It has extremely high energy density.
- It is not affected by weather.
Q3. What does the steam in a nuclear plant do?
- creates radiation
- spins the turbine
- cools the fuel rods
- stores electricity
Q4. In the video, each energy source is represented by a box proportional to its energy density. Why is there no box shown for uranium?
- Uranium’s energy is not measurable.
- Uranium is too dangerous to compare visually.
- A uranium box would be too small to be seen.
- A uranium box would be so large it wouldn’t fit on the board.
Q5. What is spent fuel?
- fuel that has been burned completely
- fuel that is no longer useful in a reactor but is still radioactive
- fuel that powers a fusion reactor
- fuel that is stored in dry air tanks
Q6. What is one proposed benefit of breeder reactors?
- They use wind energy.
- They cool themselves naturally.
- They leave almost no waste.
- They run only on solar power.
Q7. What is the purpose of a containment building?
- to store spent fuel
- to house electrical equipment
- to hold the steam from the turbine
- to protect and contain the reactor in case of an accident
Q8. Future reactors are being designed to be “passively safe.” What does this mean?
- The reactors shut off after one year.
- The reactors can’t be used to make weapons.
- The reactors don’t use uranium.
- The reactors are designed so they cannot overheat on their own.