APES - Unit 6.6 Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Fission

A neutron strikes a radioactive nucleus, like uranium, causing it to split and release energy, heat, more neutrons triggering a chain reaction

Radioactivity refers to ...

The energy given off by the nucleus of a radioactive isotope (LIKE URANIUM-235)

Radioactive Half-Life

The amnt of time it takes for half of an radioactive substance to decay or breakdown

Nuclear energy uses the ________

same process as FF's!!!

What is Uranium-235

The most common isotope used for nuclear energy generation

Where is Uranium-235 stored?

Fuel rods that are submerged in water in the reaction core which then turns to steam to power a turbine

Drawbacks to Nuclear Energy

1. Nonrenewable ->

Uranium is limited!

2. Mining of uranium releases GHG's

3. Meltdown + radioactive contamination

Advantages to Nuclear Energy

No air pollutants are released when electricity generated

Nuclear Energy only releases one gas ....

Water Vapor (a GHG, only stays in atm. shortly)

Other drawbacks of nuclear energy relating to PARTS

4. Spent Fuel Rods (used fuel rods that remain radioactive)

5. Mine Tailings (leftover rock that may be radioactive)

6. Water use (require lots of water)

7. Thermal Pollution (Hot water released into surface waters can cause thermal shock)

Three Mile Island

Partial meltdown due to testing error; radiation released but no deaths

-Scared american public! no new plants built.

Fukushima, Japan

caused by an earthquake and tsunami which triggered cooling pump failure leading to meltdown

-widespread radiation release

Chernobyl, Ukraine

A stuck cooling valve during testing lead to COMPLETE MELTDOWN

-several deaths

-widespread radiation release

What are environmental consequences of meltdowns?

-Genetic mutations

-cancer in animals/people/plants