Question

At times of high electricity demand, what would you expect to be happening at a nuclear reactor facility?

A) More U-238 is consumed.

B) Water levels are lowered.

C) Control rods are raised.

D) Fuel rods are raised.

Answer 1

During high electricity demand, control rods are raised in a nuclear reactor to increase the rate of nuclear reactions, generating more heat and electricity.

Step-by-step explanation:

At times of high electricity demand at a nuclear reactor facility, you would expect that the control rods are being raised. During high electricity demand, control rods are raised in a nuclear reactor to increase the rate of nuclear reactions, generating more heat and electricity.

This action allows more neutrons to sustain the chain reaction, thereby increasing the rate of the nuclear reaction and the amount of heat generated. As a result, more steam is produced to turn the turbines and generate additional electricity to meet the higher demand. The control rods inserted among the fuel rods can be adjusted to control the rate of fission — raising them results in an increased reaction rate and more electricity produced.