Lesson 4.4.4.1

4.4.4.1 Nuclear fission Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 4

20 questions

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Lesson 4.4.4.1, Nuclear fission: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Unit 4: Atomic structure, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What happens during nuclear fission?

    • Protons decay
    • Nucleus splits
    • Electrons melt
    • Nuclei fuse
  2. Examples of nuclei that undergo fission include:

    • Uranium and plutonium
    • Carbon and oxygen
    • Hydrogen and helium
    • Sodium and chlorine
  3. How common is spontaneous nuclear fission?

    • Constant
    • Rare
    • Common
    • Rapid
  4. What must an unstable heavy nucleus usually do before fission can occur?

    • Absorb a neutron
    • Lose an electron
    • Emit an alpha particle
    • Gain a proton
  5. During nuclear fission, what does the heavy nucleus split into?

    • Three equal fragments
    • Four separate protons
    • Two smaller nuclei
    • One single neutron
  6. Which particle is typically emitted alongside gamma rays during a fission event?

    • Two or three neutrons
    • A positron
    • A single electron
    • Four alpha particles
  7. What form of energy do all the products of nuclear fission possess?

    • Kinetic energy
    • Elastic energy
    • Chemical energy
    • Potential energy
  8. What can the neutrons released during a fission event go on to start?

    • Radioactive decay
    • Nuclear fusion
    • Chemical combustion
    • A chain reaction
  9. How is the chain reaction treated inside a working nuclear reactor?

    • Controlled
    • Accelerated
    • Isolated
    • Ignited
  10. What causes the massive explosion of a nuclear weapon?

    • Chemical explosion
    • Spontaneous combustion
    • Uncontrolled chain reaction
    • Controlled fission
  11. A neutron causes a fission event that releases 3 neutrons. Each of those 3 neutrons causes one further fission. How many neutrons are there after this second generation?

    • 6
    • 3
    • 12
    • 9
  12. Each fission releases 2 neutrons and each neutron causes one further fission. Starting from one neutron, how many neutrons are there after 3 generations?

    • 8
    • 16
    • 3
    • 6
  13. Why is neutron absorption usually necessary to trigger fission in large nuclei?

    • Nuclei lack energy
    • Electrons block splitting
    • Spontaneous fission is rare
    • Protons repel neutrons
  14. What is the primary characteristic of nuclear fission?

    • Splitting a nucleus
    • Emitting a neutrino
    • Joining two nuclei
    • Losing a positron
  15. What is the main benefit of controlled nuclear fission in power stations?

    • Steady energy release
    • Instant cooling
    • Zero radiation
    • Infinite fuel
  16. What term describes a self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions?

    • Radioactive decay
    • Chain reaction
    • Background radiation
    • Nuclear fusion
  17. What do control rods in a nuclear reactor primarily regulate?

    • Coolant temperature
    • Gamma ray frequency
    • Number of neutrons
    • Uranium mass
  18. Where does the kinetic energy of fission products originate from?

    • Released reaction energy
    • Alpha particles
    • Magnetic fields
    • External heaters
  19. How quickly does an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction release energy?

    • At a constant rate
    • Very rapidly
    • Very slowly
    • Over centuries
  20. What is the primary effect of fast-moving fission products on their surroundings?

    • Creating light
    • Generating sound
    • Freezing matter
    • Heating surroundings

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