Coolant
Fuel
Moderator
Atomic smasher
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
The correct answer is: C. Moderator
Heavy water is used as a moderator in nuclear reactors to slow down the neutrons produced by the fission of uranium-235. This is necessary because the neutrons produced by fission are too fast to cause further fission. By slowing them down, the moderator increases the probability that they will interact with a uranium-235 nucleus and cause another fission event. This is called a chain reaction, and it is the basis of nuclear power generation.
The other options are incorrect:
- A. Coolant: The coolant in a nuclear reactor is used to remove heat from the reactor core. This heat is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity.
- B. Fuel: The fuel in a nuclear reactor is the material that is fissioned to produce the neutrons that sustain the chain reaction. In most nuclear reactors, the fuel is uranium-235.
- D. Atomic smasher: This is not a term that is used in nuclear physics.