The question is incomplete, the complete question is;
During a heat wave, there is an increased demand for electricity to operate air conditioners. The basic design of a nuclear reactor that generates electricity is shown below. What is the best way for the power plant manager to modify the reactor to meet the demand for electricity?
a)lower the control rods, which will absorb more neutrons before they can split atoms
b)raise the control rods so that fewer neutrons are absorbed and more can split uranium atoms
c)remove some of the fuel rods, which will leave more room for additional neutrons to split atoms
d)add additional fuel rods to generate additional neutrons to split uranium atoms
Answer:
b)raise the control rods so that fewer neutrons are absorbed and more can split uranium atoms
Explanation:
A nuclear reactor uses a nuclear fuel to generate electricity. The nuclear reactor makes use of a fissile isotope such as Uranium-235 as nuclear fuel which is bombarded by neutrons and causes a nuclear fission to occur leading to a consequent initiation of a chain reaction.
Control rods are used to absorb some of the neutrons and keep the reaction under control.
When there is need to increase power generation, the control rods are raised so that less neutrons are absorbed by them and more of the uranium fuel is split.
