Question EXE.2.SL.TZ0.19
| Date | Example questions Example questions | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 7] | Reference code | EXE.2.SL.TZ0.19 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Compare and contrast, Determine, State | Question number | 19 | Adapted from | N/A |
Compare and contrast spontaneous and neutron-induced nuclear fission.
[2]
Spontaneous fission occurs with no external influence, neutron-induced fission requires an interaction with a neutron «of appropriate energy» ✓
Both result in the release of energy
OR
both have a large number of possible pairs of products ✓
Every neutron-induced fission reaction of uranium-235 releases an energy of about 200 MeV. A nuclear power station transfers an energy of about 2.4 GJ per second.
Determine the mass of uranium-235 that undergoes fission in one day in this power station.
[3]
Fissions per day «» ✓
Mass of uranium ✓
2.5 «kg» ✓
State two properties of the products of nuclear fission due to which the spent nuclear fuel needs to be kept safe.
[2]
Have relatively short half-lives / high activity ✓
Their decay products are «usually» also radioactive ✓
Volatile / chemically active ✓
Biologically active / easily absorbed by living matter ✓