Given below are two statements: Statement I: A nuclear power reactor is a…
2023
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: A nuclear power reactor is a system designed to sustain a fission chain reaction and extract useful energy.
Statement II: Light water reactors use ordinary water as the moderator.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Answer: A. Both Statement I and Statement II are true — CONCEPTA nuclear power reactor maintains a controlled, self-sustaining fission chain reaction. The heat released is removed by a coolant and converted into…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are true
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- C.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D.
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
CONCEPT
A nuclear power reactor maintains a controlled, self-sustaining fission chain reaction. The heat released is removed by a coolant and converted into useful energy.
A moderator slows fast neutrons so that they can sustain fission efficiently. In a light-water reactor, ordinary water (H₂O) serves as both coolant and moderator.
APPLICATION
Statement I describes the defining function of a nuclear power reactor: sustaining a controlled fission chain reaction and extracting its released energy. Statement II describes the standard moderator in light-water reactors: ordinary water. Therefore, both statements are true.
CONTRAST
“Both statements are false” conflicts with both the reactor definition and the meaning of light water.
“Statement I is true but Statement II is false” overlooks ordinary water's neutron-moderating role in light-water designs.
“Statement I is false but Statement II is true” overlooks the controlled-fission function that defines a nuclear reactor.
CROSS-CHECK
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission describes a nuclear reactor as the part of a nuclear power plant where fission occurs and identifies light-water reactors as using ordinary water to cool and moderate the reactor. Both definitions independently support the same truth-value pair.
Result: Both Statement I and Statement II are true.