Question detail
What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reactor?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Nuclear fission and fusion
Question
- A. To increase the temperature
- B. To absorb neutrons
- C. To produce electricity
- D. To initiate fission
Answer
To absorb neutrons
Explanation
Control rods are used in nuclear reactors to absorb neutrons, helping to control the rate of the chain reaction.
Common mistake
Neutron Absorption Misunderstanding
Students often confuse the process of a neutron being absorbed by a nucleus with the actual fission event, thinking that absorption alone causes fission.
Emphasize that the absorption of a neutron is a necessary step that precedes fission, but it is the subsequent splitting of the nucleus that actually releases energy.
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