Atoms, Particles, and Radiation
How to Build a Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Climate Change and Puerto Rico’s Energy Grid
Puerto Rico Trivia
200
These are the three subatomic particles discussed.
What are Neutrons, Protons & Electrons?
200
This fundamental nuclear process involves splitting a heavy atomic nucleus, such as Uranium-235, into smaller atoms to release a massive amount of energy.
What is nuclear fission?
200
During the milling stage, raw uranium ore is processed into this powdery, bright-yellow concentrate before it undergoes chemical conversion.
What is yellowcake?
200
Despite global efforts to transition to clean energy, this fossil fuel is still Puerto Rico's dominant energy source, generating over 60% of the island's electricity.
What is petroleum (oil)?
200
This tiny, beloved tree frog is the unofficial national symbol of Puerto Rico, famous for the surprisingly loud, two-note whistle it makes at night.
What is the coquí?
400
These particles can be found either positively or negatively charged.
What are Ions?
400
These movable components are inserted into or withdrawn from the reactor core to absorb neutrons and regulate or completely halt the chain reaction.
What are control rods (barras de control)?
400
In December of 1942, this famous Italian-American physicist successfully directed the world’s first self-sustaining, controlled nuclear chain reaction.
Who is Enrico Fermi?
400
Passed in 2019, Puerto Rico's Ley 17 (the Energy Public Policy Act) set a legally binding mandate for the island to achieve 100% of this type of energy by the year 2050.
What is renewable energy?
400
Breaking centuries of appointed rule, this political leader made history in 1948 by becoming the first democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico.
Who is Luis Muñoz Marín?
600
These three disasters were discussed on the first day of the boot camp.
What are, 3 mile island accident, Fukushima Daiichi accident and Chernobyl accident
600
This is the term for slowing down fast-moving neutrons—using materials like light or heavy water—to make them much more likely to be absorbed by U-235 fuel.
What is moderation?
600
Abbreviated as ISR, this modern uranium mining method involves pumping a liquid solution directly into an underground ore deposit to dissolve and retrieve uranium without massive physical excavation.
What is In Situ Recovery?
600
Unlike standard renewable rules, Clean Energy Standards (CES) are being adopted by states because they encompass broader low-carbon options, specifically mentioning this power source.
What is nuclear energy?
600
Serving from 2001 to 2005, this former Mayor of San Juan made history as the first woman to hold the office of Governor of Puerto Rico.
Who is Sila María Calderón?
800
These are the estimated atomic masses of deuterium and tritium.
What are 2 amu and 3 amu?
800
This specific Canadian-designed reactor type uses heavy water (D2O) as a moderator, which allows it to run entirely on natural, unenriched uranium.
What is a CANDU reactor?
800
Citing concerns over nuclear weapon proliferation, the United States made this "back end" fuel cycle process illegal in 1977 because it extracts plutonium from spent reactor fuel.
What is spent fuel reprocessing (or recycling)?
800
Established in Peñuelas in 1956 and closed in 1982, this major oil refining company once employed just under 1% of the island's population.
What is CORCO (Commonwealth Oil Refining Company, Inc.)?
800
Shared as a name with the specific gold-copper-silver alloy it was made from, this large, shiny ceremonial medallion was worn around the neck by a cacique as a sacred symbol of political and spiritual authority.
What is a guanín?
1000
While chemists rely on the Periodic Table, nuclear scientists use this two-dimensional grid—often named after physicist Emilio Segrè—to map out every known stable and radioactive isotope.
What is a nuclide chart (or Segrè chart)?
1000
This term refers to the probability of a neutron interaction (such as fission or capture) occurring with a target nucleus, which increases dramatically as the neutron's energy decreases.
What is cross section?
1000
During conversion, uranium is turned into a gas using this specific chemical element. It is used because it is monoisotopic (having only one stable isotope), ensuring that any difference in gas molecule weight is strictly due to the uranium isotopes (U-235 vs. U-238).
What is Fluorine?
1000
Highlighting Puerto Rico's dependency on external supply chains, the island must import this exact percentage of its food.
What is 85%?
1000
This is the year Manuel Fernández Juncos penned the modern, official lyrics to "La Borinqueña" describing Puerto Rico as "the daughter of the sea and the sun."
Answer: What is 1903?