Supply and demand
2 marks · EasyExplain why nuclear power stations cannot be used to meet rapid, unexpected increases in electricity demand.
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Nuclear power stations cannot be used to meet rapid increases in demand because they take a long time to start up and cannot be turned on or off quickly.
Also accept: It takes a long time to heat up the nuclear reactor and begin producing electricity.; The fission reaction in nuclear power stations cannot be started instantly.
Common mistakes: They are not powerful enough.; They do not work at night.
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · Explains that nuclear stations take a long time to start up
B2 · 1 mark · States they cannot be turned on or off quickly for sudden demand
Worked solution
Nuclear power stations need a lot of time to start up because the fission reaction and heating of the reactor core are slow processes. As a result, they cannot be used to quickly meet sudden or unexpected increases in electricity demand.