During an Emergency Such as the Three Mile Island Accident

question 56

Multiple Choice

During an emergency such as the Three Mile Island accident, neutron- absorbing rods are inserted into the reactor. What effect does this have on the thermal energy output of the reactor?

• A) It has no effect on thermal energy output, because nuclear reactors create practically no thermal energy anyway.
• B) Thermal energy output is unchanged for a few hours because the chain reaction takes a long time to die out.
• C) Radioactivity immediately ceases, reducing the thermal energy output, but fission keeps creating thermal energy.
• D) The chain reaction stops, reducing the thermal energy output, but radioactivity keeps creating thermal energy.
• E) All thermal energy output immediately ceases.

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