Question

Match the nuclear processes given in column I with the appropriate option(s) in column II. Column I (A) Nuclear fusion (B) Fission in a nuclear reactor (C) \(\beta\) -decay (D) \(\gamma\) -ray emission Column II (P) Absorption of thermal neutrons by \({ }_{92}^{235} \mathrm{U}\) (Q) \({ }_{27}^{60} \mathrm{C}\) o nucleus (R) Energy production in stars via hydrogen conversion to helium (S) Heavy water (T) Neutrino emission

Short answer

(A) matches with (R), (B) matches with (P), (C) matches with (T), and (D) matches with (Q). (S) does not match any given nuclear process.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Nuclear Processes

Read and understand the processes listed in Column I. These processes include nuclear fusion, fission in a nuclear reactor, beta-decay, and gamma-ray emission.

Understand Options in Column II

Examine each of the options given in Column II and determine the nuclear process they correspond to. This involves knowing the characteristics and outcomes of each process to find the correct match.

Match Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars, where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium. The correct option that matches this process is (R) Energy production in stars via hydrogen conversion to helium.

Match Fission in Nuclear Reactor

The fission process in a nuclear reactor involves splitting heavy atomic nuclei like uranium. The option that describes a step in this process is absorption of thermal neutrons by uranium, so (P) is the match for (B) Fission in a nuclear reactor.

Match Beta-Decay

During beta-decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton while emitting a beta particle and a neutrino. Therefore, (T) Neutrino emission is the match for (C) beta-decay.

Match Gamma-Ray Emission

Gamma-ray emission often occurs after other nuclear reactions and involves the excited nucleus releasing energy in the form of gamma rays. Cobalt-60 is a known source for gamma emissions; thus, (Q) Cobalt nucleus is the match for (D) gamma-ray emission.

Eliminate Remaining Options

Option (S) Heavy water, is not directly related to any of the processes listed in Column I. Therefore, it does not match any of the given nuclear processes.

Key concepts

Nuclear Fusion

Imagine the sun, a giant ball of energy, warming the Earth and providing light. This massive energy comes from a process known as nuclear fusion. In fusion, two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. It's like a cosmic dance where the dancers come together to become one. This process releases immense energy, which is why it powers the stars, including our sun.

In education, we often compare this to combining two small, energetic class projects to create one impressive large project. Each step contributes energy and materials until you get something far greater than the sum of its parts. Now that's fusion for you—simple in concept but incredibly powerful!

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the breakdown of a party! Imagine you had a really big pinata, representing a heavy atomic nucleus. When you hit that pinata (a process similar to bombarding it with neutrons), it splits open, candy representing smaller atoms spills out everywhere, and a wave of energy (the joy of the children, in our example) washes over the room.

This process is utilized in nuclear reactors to generate electricity. The controlled split of heavy atoms like uranium-235 (the pinata) when they absorb neutrons creates a chain reaction of energy release, which in turn heats water to produce steam. That steam then drives turbines to generate power. So, in simple terms, fission is the action of splitting atoms to free the energy inside.

Beta-Decay

Beta-decay is the nuclear equivalent of a wardrobe change for an atom. In this process, a neutron in an atom's nucleus decides it's time to transform into a proton. It does this by emitting a beta particle—a high-speed electron—and an almost massless particle called a neutrino.

You can think of beta-decay as a method nature uses to correct an imbalance within the atom. It's like having too many blue shirts in your closet and exchanging one for a red shirt to have a better color balance. After beta-decay, because the number of protons in the nucleus changes, the atom becomes a different element. It's as if by changing a blue shirt to a red one, your whole room changes theme.

Gamma-Ray Emission

Gamma-ray emission is the universe's flash photography. When an atomic nucleus is excited—packed with more energy than it wants—it can release that energy in the form of gamma rays. These are very high-energy light waves, far more energetic than the visible light we see with our eyes.

If atoms were people at a party, gamma-ray emission would be them shouting out a burst of laughter after a really great joke. This emission can happen after a variety of nuclear reactions, and it doesn't change the element, just lowers its energy. Cobalt-60, for instance, is famous for its gamma ray 'laughter' and is widely used in medical applications for this reason.