Multiple Choice Questions and Answers (MCQ) on Nuclear Power Engineering
01. Fission of U-235 on slow neutron bombardment can be represented by
(A) 92U235 + 3 γ1 → 56Ba143 + 36Kr90
(B) 92U235 + 0n1 → 56Ba143 + 36Kr90 + 3 0n1
(C) 92U235 + 0n1 → 56Ba143 + 36Kr90 + 3 0n1 + Q (energy)
(D) 92U235 + 0n1 → 92U236 + 30n1+ Q (energy)
Answer: Option C
02. ‘Heavy water’ is termed as ‘heavy’ because it is
(A) Denser than water
(B) An oxide of deuterium
(C) A heavy liquid
(D) An oxide of heavier isotope of oxygen
Answer: Option B
03. Ceramic nuclear metals compared to solid nuclear metals have
(A) Higher melting points
(B) Low strength at high temperature
(C) More chances of radiation damage
(D) Poorer corrosion resistance
Answer: Option A
04. Coolant present in the primary circuit of a pressurised water reactor is high pressure
(A) Sub cooled water
(B) Saturated water
(C) Superheated steam
(D) Saturated steam
Answer: Option B
05. The time required for half of the __________ of a radioactive isotope to decay is called its half life.
(A) Nuclei
(B) Electrons
(C) Protons
(D) Neutrons
Answer: Option A
06. The type of pump used for the recirculation of molten sodium coolant in liquid metal cooled reactor is a/an __________ pump.
(A) Electromagnetic
(B) Reciprocating
(C) Centrifugal
(D) Volute
Answer: Option A
07. Which of the following is the best nuclear fuel?
(A) Np- 239
(B) U-234
(C) Pu-239
(D) Th-236
Answer: Option C
08. The specific heats of three gaseous coolants namely H2, He and CO2 in the increasing order are
(A) CO2, He, H2
(B) CO2, H2, He
(C) H2, He, CO2
(D) H2, CO2, He
Answer: Option A
09. Which one is different for the neutral atoms of the isotopes of an element?
(A) Atomic weights
(B) Atomic numbers
(C) Number of protons
(D) Number of electrons
Answer: Option A
10. The number of neutrons accompanying the formation of 54Xe139 and 38Sr94 from the absorption of a slow neutron by 92U235, followed by nuclear fission is
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
Answer: Option C
11. Which of the following is not a naturally occurring nuclear fuel?
(A) Uranium-238
(B) Thorium-233
(C) Plutonium-239
(D) None of these
Answer: Option C
12. An ideal coolant for a nuclear reactor should
(A) Be a good absorber of neutrons
(B) Be capable of attaining high temperature, only when it is pressurised
(C) Have high density, but low heat transfer co-efficient
(D) Be free from radiation damage and non-corrosive
Answer: Option D
13. Safety rods provided in nuclear reactors to guard against accidents, in case of earthquake are made of
(A) High carbon steel
(B) Molybdenum
(C) Zircaloy
(D) Boron or cadmium
Answer: Option D
14. Heavy water is preferred over ordinary water as a coolant, because it.
(A) Acts both as an efficient coolant as well as a moderator
(B) Can be heated to a higher temperature without pressurizing
(C) Is less prone to radiation damage
(D) All (A), (B) and (C)
Answer: Option D
15. Percentage of U-238 in natural uranium is around
(A) 0.71
(B) 99.29
(C) 0.015
(D) 29.71
Answer: Option B
16. The time taken for a radioactive element to reduce to 50% of its original weight is __________ years, if its half life period is 12 years.
(A) 24
(B) 18
(C) 6
(D) 36
Answer: Option B
17. Which of the following is not a good moderating material?
(A) Concrete
(B) Boron
(C) 18/8 stainless steel
(D) All (A), (B) and (C)
Answer: Option D
18. Primary purpose of a __________ nuclear reactor is to supply a high neutron flux of the order of 1013 to 1014neutrons/cm2 second.
(A) Research
(B) Power
(C) Breeder
(D) Homogeneous
Answer: Option A
19. The electric power generation cost in nuclear power plant is less than that in a coal based thermal power plant, mainly because the
(A) Fuel cost per unit power generated is less
(B) Thermal efficiency of the former is higher
(C) Maintenance cost of the former is less
(D) None of these
Answer: Option A
20. Fast breeder nuclear reactors using enriched uranium as fuel may contain upto a maximum of __________ percent of U-235 (i.e. fissile material).
(A) 15
(B) 45
(C) 65
(D) 85
Answer: Option D
21. Which is used as a coolant in nuclear reactor due to its high capture cross-section?
(A) H2
(B) N2
(C) He
(D) CO2
Answer: Option A
22. Water is a better coolant than a gas (like CO2, He, N2 etc.), because it
(A) Is a better neutron moderator as well
(B) Require comparatively smaller pumps and heat exchanger for a given heat transfer rate
(C) Has a better heat transfer characteristics, and it can be pressurised to attain a high temperature
(D) All (A), (B) and (C)
Answer: Option D
23. β-rays emission in radioactive disintegration is always accompanied by the emission of
(A) γ-rays
(B) α-rays
(C) Neutrons
(D) None of these
Answer: Option A
24. Fuel for a nuclear reactor (thermal) is
(A) Uranium
(B) Plutonium
(C) Radium
(D) None of these
Answer: Option A
25. Final product of uranium extraction plant at Jadugoda (Bihar) is
(A) Uranium
(B) Uranium oxide
(C) Uranium carbide
(D) Magnesium diuranate
Answer: Option D