©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 9:46 AM A+
EPRI - Reactor Theory Exam Questions And
Answers |Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass
Fission - Answer✔A neutron interaction in which a nucleus absorbs a neutron, splits into two
new nuclei and releases a large amount of energy; the resulting fission fragments emit neutrons
and gamma rays and then undergo radioactive decay
Turbines - Answer✔A device with rotating blades that are connected to a shaft and turned by
having a fluid do work on the blades; in a nuclear power plant, steam turbines are rotated by
expanding steam
Describe how a nuclear power plant generates electricity - Answer✔Nuclear fission creates
heat, which generate steams. The steam rotates the turbines, which turn the generator to
produce electricity.
Nucleus - Answer✔The center of an atom containing 99.9% of its mass and comprised of
neutrons and protons held together in a very small volume by nuclear force
Moderator - Answer✔The medium used to slow down fast neutrons
Coolant - Answer✔The medium used to remove heat from the reactor core; the coolant keeps
the reactor from overheating
1
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 9:46 AM A+
Light Water Reactors - Answer✔A nuclear reactor that uses H2O, or "light water," as the
moderator and coolant
Control Rods - Answer✔A rod made up of a substance that controls the neutron population
inside a reactor; control rods are used to control the reactor power and also to provide a
mechanism for rapid shutdown of the reactor, if necessary
Reactor Core - Answer✔The part of a nuclear reactor where the heat is generated; it includes
the fuel, cladding, fuel assemblies, moderator/coolant and control rods
Pressurized Water Reactor - Answer✔A nuclear reactor system that pressurizes the coolant
water to a high enough pressure to prevent boiling in the core; the heated water leaves the
core and flows through a steam generator where steam is produced and used to drive turbines
Boiling Water Reactor - Answer✔A nuclear reactor in which water is allowed to boil directly
inside the reactor, thus creating steam; the steam is dried and used to drive turbines
Radiation - Answer✔Sub-atomic particles and energy emitted by unstable isotopes to become
stable
Heat Exchanger - Answer✔A device used to transfer heat from one medium to another; in
nuclear plants, steam generators and condensers are examples of heat exchangers, the former
transferring heat from the primary coolant to the secondary coolant of a PWR and the latter
transferring the heat from steam to water from a cooling tower or pond
Pressurizer - Answer✔A component in the primary system of a PWR that is used to maintain
the design pressure of the primary coolant (water)
Primary Coolant - Answer✔The cooling water that flows through the core of a PWR
2
EPRI - Reactor Theory Exam Questions And
Answers |Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass
Fission - Answer✔A neutron interaction in which a nucleus absorbs a neutron, splits into two
new nuclei and releases a large amount of energy; the resulting fission fragments emit neutrons
and gamma rays and then undergo radioactive decay
Turbines - Answer✔A device with rotating blades that are connected to a shaft and turned by
having a fluid do work on the blades; in a nuclear power plant, steam turbines are rotated by
expanding steam
Describe how a nuclear power plant generates electricity - Answer✔Nuclear fission creates
heat, which generate steams. The steam rotates the turbines, which turn the generator to
produce electricity.
Nucleus - Answer✔The center of an atom containing 99.9% of its mass and comprised of
neutrons and protons held together in a very small volume by nuclear force
Moderator - Answer✔The medium used to slow down fast neutrons
Coolant - Answer✔The medium used to remove heat from the reactor core; the coolant keeps
the reactor from overheating
1
, ©BRIGHTSTARS 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 9:46 AM A+
Light Water Reactors - Answer✔A nuclear reactor that uses H2O, or "light water," as the
moderator and coolant
Control Rods - Answer✔A rod made up of a substance that controls the neutron population
inside a reactor; control rods are used to control the reactor power and also to provide a
mechanism for rapid shutdown of the reactor, if necessary
Reactor Core - Answer✔The part of a nuclear reactor where the heat is generated; it includes
the fuel, cladding, fuel assemblies, moderator/coolant and control rods
Pressurized Water Reactor - Answer✔A nuclear reactor system that pressurizes the coolant
water to a high enough pressure to prevent boiling in the core; the heated water leaves the
core and flows through a steam generator where steam is produced and used to drive turbines
Boiling Water Reactor - Answer✔A nuclear reactor in which water is allowed to boil directly
inside the reactor, thus creating steam; the steam is dried and used to drive turbines
Radiation - Answer✔Sub-atomic particles and energy emitted by unstable isotopes to become
stable
Heat Exchanger - Answer✔A device used to transfer heat from one medium to another; in
nuclear plants, steam generators and condensers are examples of heat exchangers, the former
transferring heat from the primary coolant to the secondary coolant of a PWR and the latter
transferring the heat from steam to water from a cooling tower or pond
Pressurizer - Answer✔A component in the primary system of a PWR that is used to maintain
the design pressure of the primary coolant (water)
Primary Coolant - Answer✔The cooling water that flows through the core of a PWR
2
