Nuclear Power and Radiation Safety

These flashcards cover key concepts related to nuclear power generation, radioactive waste management, and radiation safety.

Fission

The process of splitting atomic nuclei to release energy.

Uranium ore

A type of mineral that contains uranium, from which nuclear fuel is derived.

Enrichment

The process of increasing the proportion of the isotope U-235 in uranium.

Control rods

Materials used in a nuclear reactor to absorb neutrons and control the rate of the fission reaction.

Chain reaction

A sequence of reactions where a reactive product causes additional reactions to occur.

Cooling system

A system used in nuclear power plants to remove heat from the reactor.

Low Level (LL) Waste

Radioactive waste that is not highly radioactive and requires less stringent disposal methods.

High Level (HL) Waste

Highly radioactive waste that requires heavy shielding and deep burial for safety.

Transmutation

The process of changing one element into another, which can involve using nuclear waste as fuel.

Radiation exposure limits

Guidelines that define safe levels of exposure to radiation to prevent health risks.

Curies, Becquerels, Grays, Rads, Sieverts

Different units used to measure radioactivity and radiation exposure.