Exploring Nuclear Power: Pros and Cons

What is the primary fuel used in most nuclear fission reactors?

• Uranium-235

• Carbon-14

• Plutonium-239

• Thorium-232

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Which of the following is a byproduct of the nuclear fission process?

• Oxygen gas

• Nuclear waste

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

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What is the main purpose of radiation shielding in a nuclear power plant?

• To increase electricity output

• To protect workers and the environment from harmful radiation

• To cool the reactor core

• To store nuclear fuel

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Which of the following is a common method for managing high-level nuclear waste?

• Incineration

• Deep geological storage

• Composting

• Recycling into fertilizer

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Which environmental impact is most directly associated with nuclear power plants during normal operation?

• Air pollution from smoke

• Thermal pollution of nearby water bodies

• Acid rain production

• Deforestation

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Compare the economic costs of building a nuclear power plant to a solar power plant. Which statement is most accurate?

• Nuclear plants are generally cheaper to build than solar plants.

• Nuclear plants have higher initial construction costs than solar plants.

• Solar plants require more expensive fuel than nuclear plants.

• Both have the same construction costs.

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Which safety measure is commonly used to prevent the release of radioactive materials in nuclear power plants?

• Installing wind turbines

• Using containment buildings

• Planting trees around the facility

• Adding more cooling towers

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Why is nuclear waste considered a significant challenge for nuclear power?

• It is easy to recycle

• It remains radioactive and hazardous for thousands of years

• It can be safely disposed of in regular landfills

• It is not harmful to humans

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A community is deciding between building a nuclear power plant and a wind farm. What are two strategic factors they should consider in their decision-making process?

• The color of the buildings and the number of employees

• Long-term waste management and reliability of energy supply

• The taste of local water and the amount of sunlight

• The number of birds in the area and the type of soil

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Suppose a country wants to reduce its carbon emissions quickly. Evaluate the pros and cons of choosing nuclear power over renewable energy sources like wind or solar for this purpose.

• Nuclear power is faster to build and has no waste, while renewables are slower and polluting.

• Nuclear power can provide large amounts of low-carbon energy but creates long-lived waste; renewables are cleaner but may be less reliable and slower to deploy at scale.

• Renewables are more expensive and less safe than nuclear power.

• Nuclear power and renewables have identical impacts and costs.

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