1. Nuclear Review Sections C, D, E

2. What is an isotope? What are the symbols used to represent alpha, beta and gamma?

3. What is a radioisotope? What does the half-life of a radioisotope mean?

4. Originally, there was 100 grams of an isotope with a half-life of 3.2 years. If it has been decaying for 16.0 years, how much of the isotope remains undecayed?

5. What is the half-life of an isotope if about 1.6% remains after 14,000 years?

6. Explain how radioisotopes are used as tracers to diagnose illness. Give an example.

7. Explain how radioisotopes are used in irradiation to kill cancer cells and to kill harmful bacteria.

8. Write the equation where plutonium- 239 is bombarded with an alpha particle and produces curium-242 and a neutron.

9. Write the equation where Curium- 246 is bombarded with Carbon-12 and produces Nobelium-254 and some neutrons.

10. What is nuclear fission? Write an example of an equation that represents nuclear fission. Where is nuclear fission used?

11. What is nuclear fusion? Write an equation for nuclear fusion. Where is nuclear fusion used?

12. Give two reasons why so much energy is produced in nuclear reactions. Which of the two is most important?

13. Explain how a nuclear reactor works. Which isotope of Uranium is fissionable? Which isotope(s) of Uranium is/are radioactive?

14. What is a chain reaction? What is needed for an uncontrolled chain reaction to occur? Why can’t a nuclear power plant explode like an atomic bomb?

15. What is the difference between a conventional power plant and a nuclear power plant? How does a power plant produce electricity?

16. What types of pollution do conventional power plants and nuclear power plants produce? What are the advantages/disadvantages of using nuclear vs. conventional power plants?

17. What problems exist in using fusion to produce energy on Earth?

18. Is most nuclear waste high or low level waste? Which produces the most nuclear waste, commercial or military use? By what percentage?

19. Why is nuclear waste disposal a problem? Describe how nuclear waste is stored now and how it is proposed to be stored in the future.

20. Name the sites of two major nuclear power accidents. Explain each in terms of release of radioactivity. Explain each in terms of release of radioactivity.

21. In which case have more people been injured or killed producing an equivalent amount of power, conventional power production or nuclear power production?