Describe the shield tank.

Describe the shield tank.

• A. Houses the Sb-Be source.
• B. Contains air-filled cavity for structural support.
• C. Used for experimental use and acts as a shield; contains 3000 gallons of DI water.
• D. Used as the primary coolant supply.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that this shield tank is built to provide radiation shielding while also serving as a space for experimental work. Water is a very effective shielding medium because hydrogen atoms in the water slow and absorb neutrons, so a tank filled with a large volume of deionized water can significantly reduce radiation levels around the area it protects. In this design, the tank not only acts as shielding but is also used for experimental purposes, meaning test setups or measurements can be performed inside the shielded environment without exposing personnel or nearby equipment. The stated volume, about 3,000 gallons, reflects a substantial amount of water to achieve meaningful attenuation. The other descriptions don’t fit this role: one describes housing a neutron source, which would be in a dedicated source assembly, not a shield tank; another mentions an air-filled cavity for structural support, which wouldn’t provide the neutron shielding or the same functional use as a water-filled shield; and another depicts it as the primary coolant supply, which is a different function tied to heat removal rather than shielding.

The main idea here is that this shield tank is built to provide radiation shielding while also serving as a space for experimental work. Water is a very effective shielding medium because hydrogen atoms in the water slow and absorb neutrons, so a tank filled with a large volume of deionized water can significantly reduce radiation levels around the area it protects. In this design, the tank not only acts as shielding but is also used for experimental purposes, meaning test setups or measurements can be performed inside the shielded environment without exposing personnel or nearby equipment. The stated volume, about 3,000 gallons, reflects a substantial amount of water to achieve meaningful attenuation.

The other descriptions don’t fit this role: one describes housing a neutron source, which would be in a dedicated source assembly, not a shield tank; another mentions an air-filled cavity for structural support, which wouldn’t provide the neutron shielding or the same functional use as a water-filled shield; and another depicts it as the primary coolant supply, which is a different function tied to heat removal rather than shielding.