Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 18M.1.HL.TZ1.23 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | 1 |
Command term | Question number | 23 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A nuclear reactor contains atoms that are used for moderation and atoms that are used for control.
What are the ideal properties of the moderator atoms and the control atoms in terms of neutron absorption?
Markscheme
B
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
- 18M.1.HL.TZ2.23: What part of a nuclear power station is principally responsible for increasing the chance...
- 19M.1.SL.TZ1.30: Most power stations rely on a turbine and a generator to produce electrical energy. Which...
- 22M.1.SL.TZ2.30: The Sankey diagrams for a filament lamp and for an LED bulb are shown below. What is the...
- 17M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.i: Outline, with reference to energy changes, the operation of a pumped storage hydroelectric...
- 22M.1.SL.TZ2.29: Photovoltaic cells and solar heating panels are used to transfer the electromagnetic...
- 17M.1.SL.TZ1.28: The following are energy sources. I. a battery of rechargeable electric cellsII. crude...
- 16N.1.SL.TZ0.29: Which of the following is not a primary energy source? A. Wind turbine B. Jet Engine C....
- 16N.1.SL.TZ0.30: What are the principal energy changes in a photovoltaic cell and in a solar heating panel?
- 22M.2.SL.TZ2.4d.i: Outline why electricity is a secondary energy source.
-
22M.2.SL.TZ2.4d.ii:
Some fuel sources are renewable. Outline what is meant by renewable.
- 22M.2.SL.TZ2.4e.ii: Outline why research into solar cell technology is important to society.
- 17M.2.SL.TZ1.3a: Describe the difference between photovoltaic cells and solar heating panels.
- 16N.2.SL.TZ0.8b: Calculate the mass of CO2 generated in a year assuming the power station operates continuously.
- 22M.2.HL.TZ2.4d.i: Outline why electricity is a secondary energy source.
- 22M.2.HL.TZ2.4e.ii: Outline why research into solar cell technology is important to society.
-
22M.2.HL.TZ2.4e.i:
A fully charged cell of emf 6.0 V delivers a constant current of 5.0 A for a time of 0.25 hour until it is completely discharged.
The cell is then re-charged by a rectangular solar panel of dimensions 0.40 m × 0.15 m at a place where the maximum intensity of sunlight is 380 W m−2.
The overall efficiency of the re-charging process is 18 %.
Calculate the minimum time required to re-charge the cell fully.
-
18M.2.HL.TZ1.6c.iv:
The temperature in the laboratory is higher than the temperature of the ice sample. Describe one other energy transfer that occurs between the ice sample and the laboratory.
-
18M.2.SL.TZ2.5a.iii:
The storage system produces 1.8 GW of electrical power. Determine the overall efficiency of the storage system.
- 17N.1.SL.TZ0.26: Which of the energy sources are classified as renewable and non-renewable?
- 16N.1.SL.TZ0.28: The Sankey diagram represents the energy flow for a coal-fired power station. What is the...
- 17M.1.SL.TZ1.15: Two pulses are travelling towards each other. What is a possible pulse shape when the...
-
17M.2.SL.TZ1.3c.ii:
Explain two reasons why the number of turbines required is likely to be greater than your answer to (c)(i).
- 16N.2.SL.TZ0.8d: Describe, in terms of energy transfers, how thermal energy of the burning gas becomes...
-
17M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.ii:
The water in a particular pumped storage hydroelectric system falls a vertical distance of 270 m to the turbines. Calculate the speed at which water arrives at the turbines. Assume that there is no energy loss in the system.
- 18N.1.SL.TZ0.28: What is the function of control rods in a nuclear power plant? A. To slow neutrons...
- 22M.1.HL.TZ2.27: Three statements about fossil fuels are: I. There is a finite amount of fossil fuels on...
- 19N.1.SL.TZ0.28: What are the units of specific energy and energy density?
- 19N.1.HL.TZ0.6: A nuclear particle has an energy of 108 eV. A grain of sand has a mass of 32 mg. What speed...
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20N.2.HL.TZ0.6b(iii):
The specific energy of fossil fuel is typically . Suggest, with reference to your answer to (b)(i), one advantage of U-235 compared with fossil fuels in a power station.
- 21N.1.HL.TZ0.25: The diagram shows a simple model of the energy balance in the Earth surface-atmosphere...
- 16N.2.SL.TZ0.8a: Calculate, with a suitable unit, the electrical power output of the power station.
- 19M.1.SL.TZ2.28: A neutron collides head-on with a stationary atom in the moderator of a nuclear power...
-
17N.1.SL.TZ0.27:
The energy density of a substance can be calculated by multiplying its specific energy with which quantity?
A. mass
B. volume
C.
D.
-
18M.1.SL.TZ2.28:
A wind turbine has a power output p when the wind speed is v. The efficiency of the wind turbine does not change. What is the wind speed at which the power output is ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
-
19N.2.SL.TZ0.6b:
Suggest why the answer in (a) is a maximum.
- 17M.2.SL.TZ2.2c: Not all the stored energy can be retrieved because of energy losses in the system. Explain...
-
18M.2.SL.TZ2.5a.ii:
Show that the average rate at which the gravitational potential energy of the water decreases is 2.5 GW.
- 21N.1.SL.TZ0.29: The Sankey diagram shows the energy transfers in a nuclear power station. Electrical power...
- 17M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.iv: Not all the stored energy can be retrieved because of energy losses in the system. Explain...
-
21N.1.SL.TZ0.28:
A fuel has mass density and energy density . What mass of the fuel has to be burned to release thermal energy ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
-
18M.2.SL.TZ1.6c.iv:
Derive the units of intensity in terms of fundamental SI units.
-
17M.2.SL.TZ2.2d:
At the location of the hydroelectric system, an average intensity of 180 W m–2 arrives at the Earth’s surface from the Sun. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells convert this solar energy with an efficiency of 22 %. The solar cells are to be arranged in a square array. Determine the length of one side of the array that would be required to replace the
hydroelectric system. - 19M.1.SL.TZ2.29: Three methods for the production of electrical energy are I. wind turbine II. photovoltaic...
- 19N.1.SL.TZ0.29: What is the function of the moderator in a thermal nuclear fission reactor? A. To decrease...
-
16N.2.SL.TZ0.8c:
Explain, using your answer to (b), why countries are being asked to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels.
-
18M.2.SL.TZ2.5a.i:
Estimate the specific energy of water in this storage system, giving an appropriate unit for your answer.
-
17M.2.SL.TZ1.3b:
A solar farm is made up of photovoltaic cells of area 25 000 m2. The average solar intensity falling on the farm is 240 W m–2 and the average power output of the farm is 1.6 MW. Calculate the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells.
-
18M.2.SL.TZ2.5b:
After the upper lake is emptied it must be refilled with water from the lower lake and this requires energy. Suggest how the operators of this storage system can still make a profit.
- 18M.1.SL.TZ1.29: Three energy sources for power stations are I. fossil fuel II. pumped...
-
22M.2.SL.TZ2.4e.i:
A fully charged cell of emf 6.0 V delivers a constant current of 5.0 A for a time of 0.25 hour until it is completely discharged.
The cell is then re-charged by a rectangular solar panel of dimensions 0.40 m × 0.15 m at a place where the maximum intensity of sunlight is 380 W m−2.
The overall efficiency of the re-charging process is 18 %.
Calculate the minimum time required to re-charge the cell fully.
-
22M.2.HL.TZ2.4d.ii:
Some fuel sources are renewable. Outline what is meant by renewable.
- 20N.1.SL.TZ0.25: A nuclear power station contains an alternating current generator. What energy transfer is...
- 20N.1.SL.TZ0.24: What are the principal roles of a moderator and of a control rod in a thermal nuclear reactor?
-
20N.2.SL.TZ0.6b(ii):
The power station has a useful power output of and an efficiency of . Determine the mass of U-235 that undergoes fission in one day.
-
20N.2.HL.TZ0.6b(ii):
The power station has a useful power output of and an efficiency of . Determine the mass of U-235 that undergoes fission in one day.
-
20N.2.HL.TZ0.6b(i):
Estimate, in , the specific energy of U-235.
-
20N.2.SL.TZ0.6b(i):
Estimate, in , the specific energy of U-235.
-
21M.2.SL.TZ2.6d:
State two reasons why future energy demands will be increasingly reliant on sources such as photovoltaic cells.
- 21M.1.HL.TZ1.24: Burning one litre of gasoline produces more energy than burning one kilogram of coal, and the...
- 21M.1.SL.TZ1.28: Which change produces the largest percentage increase in the maximum theoretical power output...
-
18M.1.SL.TZ1.28:
What is equivalent to ?
A. density of the fuel
B.
C.
D.
-
21M.2.SL.TZ2.6c:
The maximum intensity of sunlight incident on the photovoltaic cell at the place on the Earth’s surface is 680 W m−2.
A measure of the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is the ratio
Determine the efficiency of this photovoltaic cell when the intensity incident upon it is at a maximum.
-
19N.2.SL.TZ0.6a:
Determine the maximum power that can be extracted from the wind by this turbine.
-
18N.1.SL.TZ0.29:
A photovoltaic panel of area S has an efficiency of 20 %. A second photovoltaic panel has an efficiency of 15 %. What is the area of the second panel so that both panels produce the same power under the same conditions?
A.
B.
C.
D.
- 17M.2.SL.TZ2.2a: Outline, with reference to energy changes, the operation of a pumped storage hydroelectric...
-
21M.1.HL.TZ2.25:
A model of an ideal wind turbine with blade length is designed to produce a power when the average wind speed is . A second ideal wind turbine is designed to produce a power when the average wind speed is . What is the blade length for the second wind turbine?
A.
B.
C.
D.
- 17M.1.SL.TZ2.28: The main role of a moderator in a nuclear fission reactor is to A. slow down neutrons. B....
-
17M.2.SL.TZ2.2b:
The hydroelectric system has four 250 MW generators. The specific energy available from the water is 2.7 kJ kg–1. Determine the maximum time for which the hydroelectric system can maintain full output when a mass of 1.5 x 1010 kg of water passes through the turbines.
-
17M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.iii:
The hydroelectric system has four 250 MW generators. Determine the maximum time for which the hydroelectric system can maintain full output when a mass of 1.5 x 1010 kg of water passes through the turbines.
- 18M.1.HL.TZ2.22: The Sankey diagram shows the energy input from fuel that is eventually converted to...
-
17M.2.SL.TZ1.3c.i:
Determine the minimum number of turbines needed to generate the same power as the solar farm.
-
22M.1.SL.TZ1.28:
Wind of speed flows through a wind generator. The wind speed drops to after passing through the blades. What is the maximum possible efficiency of the generator?
A.
B.
C.
D.