IB HL Physics - Notes on Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Stations
8.4.1:
The firing of neutron at a heavy nucleus may result in the nucleus splitting, releasing free neutrons and lighter nuclei; which can then collide with other nuclei and resulting in the same process. This is a fission chain reaction.
8.4.2:
In a fission reaction, if you can remove the emitted neutrons from the fissionable material, then you can control the rate at which the chain reaction proceeds. A fission reaction whereby the reaction is allowed to proceed without any moderation (by removal of neutrons) is called an uncontrolled fission reaction. An uncontrolled fission reaction releases an explosive amount of energy used in nuclear weaponry.
8.4.3:
Fuel enrichment is the process in which you increase the percentage of a certain isotope in a substance, such as Uranium-235 from 0.7% to 4% in a natural uranium ore.
8.4.4:
Energy Transfers: - Water is heated by heat energy created through nuclear fission - Energy is lost to surroundings - Steam turns a turbine (heat energy transformed into kinetic energy) - Energy is lost to friction - Turbine powers a generator - Energy is lost to friction - Energy is transformed into electrical energy
8.4.5:
Role of moderator: The moderator (or neutron moderator) is a material or medium usually made out of light water (H2O), heavy water (D2O), beryllium, or solid graphite, which lowers the kinetic energy of fast neutrons by reducing its speed converting it into thermal neutrons. Fast neutrons with energy of about 1 MeV (or speed of about 107 ms-1) are highly unlikely to cause further fissions, due to their low cross section.
Role of control rod: The control rod, made of boron, steel or cadmium, which absorb neutrons, can be raised or lowered into the reactor core to control the rate of the chain reactions. The further into the core a control rod is lowered, the more neutrons it will absorb and the more chain reactions it will stop. The number of control rods inserted and
8.4.1:
The firing of neutron at a heavy nucleus may result in the nucleus splitting, releasing free neutrons and lighter nuclei; which can then collide with other nuclei and resulting in the same process. This is a fission chain reaction.
8.4.2:
In a fission reaction, if you can remove the emitted neutrons from the fissionable material, then you can control the rate at which the chain reaction proceeds. A fission reaction whereby the reaction is allowed to proceed without any moderation (by removal of neutrons) is called an uncontrolled fission reaction. An uncontrolled fission reaction releases an explosive amount of energy used in nuclear weaponry.
8.4.3:
Fuel enrichment is the process in which you increase the percentage of a certain isotope in a substance, such as Uranium-235 from 0.7% to 4% in a natural uranium ore.
8.4.4:
Energy Transfers: - Water is heated by heat energy created through nuclear fission - Energy is lost to surroundings - Steam turns a turbine (heat energy transformed into kinetic energy) - Energy is lost to friction - Turbine powers a generator - Energy is lost to friction - Energy is transformed into electrical energy
8.4.5:
Role of moderator: The moderator (or neutron moderator) is a material or medium usually made out of light water (H2O), heavy water (D2O), beryllium, or solid graphite, which lowers the kinetic energy of fast neutrons by reducing its speed converting it into thermal neutrons. Fast neutrons with energy of about 1 MeV (or speed of about 107 ms-1) are highly unlikely to cause further fissions, due to their low cross section.
Role of control rod: The control rod, made of boron, steel or cadmium, which absorb neutrons, can be raised or lowered into the reactor core to control the rate of the chain reactions. The further into the core a control rod is lowered, the more neutrons it will absorb and the more chain reactions it will stop. The number of control rods inserted and