Q1. In which one of the following areas did the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research make significant progress in the year 2005? (2006)
(a) Reprocessing the uranium-plutonium mixed carbide fuel of the Fast Breeder Test Reactor
(b) New applications of radioisotopes in metallurgy
(c) A new technology for production of heavy water
(d) A new technology for high level nuclear waste management
Ans. (a)
Exp. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research made significant progress in 2005 in the field of reprocessing the uranium plutonium mixed carbide fuel of the Fast Breeder Test Reacter.
In 2005, the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, completed 20 years of operation. It had a capacity of 13 MWE and uses plutonium-uranium carbide as a fuel and liquid sodium as coolant.
The FBTR is a forerunner to the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), which was under construction at Kalpakkam. The PFBR is generating 500 MWE from 2010.
Q2. In which one of the following locations is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project to be built? (2008)
(a) Northern Spain
(b) Southern France
(c) Eastern Germany
(d) Southern Italy
Ans. (b)
Exp. On 8th June, 2005, it was officially announced that International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be built in the European Union in Southern France. ITER is a joint international research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The partners of the project as the ITER parties are the European Union which is represented by EURATOM as Japan, China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA. ITER will be constructed at Cadarache which is situated in southern France.
Q3. In the year 2008, which one of the following conducted a complex scientific experiment in which sub-atomic particles were accelerated to nearly the speed of light? (2009)
(a) European Space Agency
(b) European Organisation for Nuclear Research
(c) International Atomic Energy Agency
(d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ans. (b)
Exp. European Organisation for Nuclear Research (EONR) conducted a complex scientific experiment in September, 2008, in which sub-atomic particles were accelerated to nearly the speed of light. This experiment is called Large Hadron Collider but due to some technical defaults this experiment is stopped till the next year.
Q4. India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega science project under the 11th Five Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements. (2010)
- Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light.
- Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay.
- Neutrinos have a negligible, but non-zero mass.
- Trillions of Neutrinos pass through human body every second.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1,2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1,2, 3 and 4
Ans. (d)
Exp. All the statements (1), (2), (3) and (4) are correct regarding India based Neutrino observatory. Neutrinos are nearly massless, chargeless particles that travel at or near the speed of light. There are three types of neutrinos: Electron neutrinos, Muon neutrinos and Tauon neutrino. Electron neutrinos (and antineutrinos) are generated whenever protons change into neutrons (or neutrons into protons) the two forms of beta decay.
Neutrinos have a very small, but non-zero rest mass. It affected only by a weak sub-atomic force of much shorter range than electromagnetism, therefore they are able to pass through great distance in matter without being affected by it. More than 50 trillion solar neutrinos pass through the human body every second.
Q5. To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, w opine that India should pursue research and Devlopment on thorium as the future fuel of energy. In this context, what advantage hold over uranium?
- Thorium is far more abundant in nature uranium.
- On the basis of per unit mass of mined mineral thorium can generate more energy compared natural uranium.
- Thorium produces less harmful waste compared uranium.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1,2 and
Ans. (d)
Exp. All the statements (1), (2) and (3) are correct. Thorium about four times more abundant than uranium. Thorin can also produce about 8 times more energy per unit ma as compared to uranium.
Thorium also produces much lesser radioactive elemen because of the nature of its fuel cycle. Thorium cyda exclusively allows thermal breeder reactors as opposed faster breeder. It means that if the fuel is reproces reactor could be fuelled without making any additiona U-235 for reactivity boasts which means the nuclear can be extended by 2 orders of the magnitude witho complications of fast reactors. Thorium produces harmful waste compare to uranium.
Q6. India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If tha experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India? (2016)
(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation (b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fusion reactors in power generation
(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Ans. (d)
Exp. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) an international nuclear fusion research and mega engineer project.
This project aims at transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to full scale electricity production fusion power station.
They have designed to produce 1 MW of output by consuming input of 50 MW.
So, it will be producing great amount of energy in very less time, and this has not been achieved in any fusion reactor.
In this project seven members are participating (funding and running European Union, India, Japan, China, Russia, South Kor and United States.
Focus of project is to develop a fusion reactor that used helium 3 and deuterium
If this experiment succeeds the immediate advantaged India is, it can build fusion reactors for power generation
Q7. Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritisation and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (2018)
(a) Japan
(b) Russia
(c) The United States of America
Ans. (b)
Exp. India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritisation and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia.
During the visit of HE Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation to India, ‘Action Plan for Prioritisation and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ identified jointly by India and Russia was signed on 5th October, 2018 in New Delhi.
For the New Nuclear Project in India, Russia will offer the evolutionary WWER or VVER (Water-Water Energetic Reactor) generation ‘3+’ technical solutions.
Q8. In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under ‘IAEA Safeguards’ while others are riot? (2020)
(a) Some use uranium and others use thorium
(b) Some use imported uranium and others use domestic supplies
(c) Some are operated by foreign enterprises and others are operated by domestic enterprises (d) Some are state-owned and others are privately-owned
Ans. (b)
Erp. In India, some nuclear reactors are kept under ‘IAEA safeguard’ while others are riot because some use imported uranium and others uses domestic supplies.
A total of 26 nuclear reactors of India are under the safeguard of IAEA. The decision to put the reactors under the safeguard of IAEA is based on the source of uranium used in
As Inthemot a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferatise Treaty, the reactors that are under IAEA’s safeguard use Imported uranium for civil peaceful purposes. The reactors India wants. for civil pe comestic uranium anywhere
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