Nuclear Energy And Its Effects

Thesis: The uses of nuclear energy range from being a clean, renewable energy source to cutting edge medical procedures.

“Nuclear power is energy that is created by splitting apart the nuclei of atoms” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Atoms are made of smaller particles. The center of an atom is called the nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons. Nuclear energy is contained within the nucleus and the strong nuclear force holds the protons and neutrons together.

On May 26, 1958, President Eisenhower opened Shippingport nuclear power plant, the first commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. Since the introduction of commercial nuclear power through the Atoms for Peace program, nuclear power plants combined with coal-fired power plants now represent approximately 60% of the nation’s electricity supply. In nuclear power plants, the heat used to produce steam is created when uranium atoms split – called fission. Nuclear fission is either a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of a particle splits into smaller parts (lighter nuclei). The fission process often produces free neutrons and photons (in the form of gamma rays) and releases a very large amount of energy.

According to source G, Nuclear power plants generate about one-fifth of U.S. electricity. While not as much as fossil fuels, nuclear energy is a more efficient way to produce energy in the future. Nuclear power plants require a small amount of fuel so 2 kg of U-235 can produce as much energy as 9000 pounds of coal. Nuclear power comes from a process called a fission reaction which involve heavier nuclei splitting off into lighter nuclei. Another process called a fusion reaction which involves lighter nuclei combining to heavier nuclei is not used because it requires an enormous amount of heat and energy. U-235 or Th-232 are subjected to nuclear fission which release energy. Energy from this process heats the water which in turn powers homes. Energy from this process heats the water which in turns powers

Ionizing radiation is a type of radiation that is able to disrupt atoms and molecules on which they pass through, giving rise to ions and free radicals. It is made up of energetic subatomic particles, ions or atoms moving at high speeds, and electromagnetic waves on the high-energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum. There are five primary types of Ionizing Radiation, Alpha Particles, Beta Particles, Gamma Rays, X-Rays and Neutrons. Alpha Particles are charged particles, which are two neutrons and two protons. They have a very limited ability to penetrate other materials, because they travel short distances and they have large mass. The only hazard that the caused is when they are inhaled. Beta Particles are electrons or positrons, which are

Nuclear Power is used for many different things, and can be very dangerous. Nuclear Power was discovered in 1938 by 2 german scientists. Nuclear Power is used for many weapons, and powers rovers on mars. They must go through a clean cycle every few years, and gets shut down every 18-24 months. It is Non renewable, and it’s good for the economy. Doesn’t create carbon dioxide or any form of pollution. A new one is constructed every few years. It is powered

Atoms are the particle that that make up all objects, within an atom there exists a large quantity of energy which holds them together. The alternative energy source of nuclear energy can be used to generate electricity. The energy is released during nuclear fission or fusion of atoms, so the energy comes from the nucleus, or core, of an atom. In nuclear fission the atoms separate and release energy. The information source NEI, How Nuclear Reactors Work; ‘the heat made by the decaying of the radioactive source, such as uranium-238. Nuclear reactors work using uranium fuel, made of solid ceramic pellets that are packed into logs (uranium must be mined from an ore and turned into ceramic fuel pellets ) in vertical tubes to produce electricity

Nuclear fission is almost the same thing as fission, but nuclear fission has one minor difference; its purpose is to produce energy. Fission is the main chemistry behind nuclear reactors and the power plant as a whole. Radiation is another addition to the chemistry involved in the production of nuclear power. The unstable atoms in the fission process give off radiation. This produces a risk in

The process of nuclear energy is very confusing. It all starts at the earth's crust where the uranium is mined. Uranium is an nonrenewable resource. The uranium is taken to a power plant. Every nuclear power power plants uses fission. Fission is the process of splitting atoms into two. The difference between fission and fusion is that, fission splits atoms, and fusion combines atoms. Since all the power is stored in the nucleus of an atom, when the atoms split they release strong amounts of energy and heat. Although there

Page 551 states, “The process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei is nuclear fission.” Not only that, but according to page 551, nuclear fissions occur whenever the nuclei is so distorted that whenever the neutron strikes it, the nucleus divides up into two smaller nuclei, which is the process of nuclear fission. Based on the website duke-energy.com, nuclear fission produces “steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity.” According to turbinegenerator.org, turbine generators can use various things to produce electricity, and one of the things they use is the steam that was created by nuclear fissions. Nuclear fissions occur only in large nuclei, some examples of large nuclei can be the nuclei of uranium

Radiation can cause a great deal of damage to living cells and the DNA inside a nucleus, and if the DNA becomes greatly damaged, that is when it becomes cancerous. Exposure to high amounts of radiation can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer. Alpha, beta and gamma radiation are the 3 different forms of radiation, and all are dangerous to humans and the environment. Although Alpha radiation cannot penetrate the skin, if a particle emitting alpha radiation is inhaled or eaten, it can do significant damage to the cells in internal organs. Beta and gamma radiation have strong enough wavelengths to penetrate the skin and damage cells inside the

There are two types of nuclear reactions, fusion and fission. Fusion is what takes place in our sun. It is when two particles fuse together to create a larger one. It produces so much heat an energy though, that we have no way to contain it. Fission on the

Nuclear energy is a fascinating discovery and an up-incoming strong energy supplier of many things in our world today. Nuclear materials include many pieces, such as; radiation, radioactive decay, nuclear reactors, fission and fusion. It is highly possible that our world will become very dependent on nuclear resources in the future; however, they’ll not only supply us with positives but many fierce negatives as well.

Nuclear fusion, or the fusing together of light nuclei to form larger ones can create another form of nuclear energy. Essentially, it is the exact reaction that occurs in the sun, as the sun’s heat is created by the bombardment of hydrogen atoms creating helium and a neutron during which energy is

Atomic energy is potential energy carried by atoms. Some atoms are quite stable and are happy to maintain their stability through their lifetime. However, other atoms which can hold stability, also called radioactive isotopes, are like old buildings which are bound to collapse sooner or later. Splitting the atoms into two releases other particles of energy, also known as nuclear fission. If an atom is split, plenty of energy is released. Through Einstein’s equation, E=MC^2, the amount of energy released when split into two can be calculated. Nuclear power plants don’t work by obliterating atoms instead. They split large atoms into more stable atoms. To produce energy in power plants Uranium is utilized for the atom splitting process. By learning the process nuclear power plants go through it makes it easier to understand the need for this type of energy as well as