Homework: Chapter 12

1. How is mass a form of energy?

When mass is converted into energy, the amount of energy produced is enormous – equal to the mass of the object multiplied by the speed of light:
Energy = mass x (speed of light)2
E = mc2

Einstein’s equation tells us that a given amount of mass cab be converted into a specific amount of energy in any form and vice versa.

2. What are the potential benefits and risks in using nuclear tracers in medical diagnosis?

3. What type of nuclear reaction powers our Sun?

The type of nuclear reaction that powers the sun is nuclear fusion (hydrogen nucleus and proton).

4. What form of indoor air pollution is the result of naturally occurring radioactive decay?

Radon is a form of indoor air pollution resulting from naturally occurring radioactive decay.

5. Why must uranium be enriched in order to be used in a nuclear power plant? What is changed in the process of enrichment?

Nuclear plants has nuclear reactors and so only enriched uranium can be used, so before uranium can be used as fuel for a nuclear reactor, it must first go through a number of processes known as “enrichment.”

The enriched uranium oxide must be fabricated into nuclear reactor fuel. These are formed from pressed uranium oxide, which is baked at a high temperature. The pellets are then encased in metal tubes to form fuel rods, which are arranged into a fuel assembly ready for introduction into a reactor.

6. What is the strong force? How is the strong force different from gravity and electromagnetism?

Strong force is the force responsible for holding the nucleus together; one of the four fundamental forces of nature.

The difference with "strong force" in comparison to gravity and electromagnetism is that strong force increases with distance, but gravity and electromagnetism does not.

7. What happens to atomic nuclei during radioactive decay?

Alpha decay, Beta decay or gamma radiation usually occurs to atomic nuclei during radioactive decay.

8. How does a nuclear reactor work?