Nuclear Power

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different amounts of neutrons

Mass number

Nuumber of protons + number of neutrons

WWII

After ____ nuclear power grew

After 1986 Chornobyl in the soviet union and 2011 Fukushima in Japan

When did countries reconsider nuclear power

Countries lacking fossil fuel reserves

Which countries are most eager to use nuclear power

100-104

How many plants operate in the US

20%

Us plants generate __ of US electrical power

Increase

Given the government incentives for nuclear energy, nuclear generating capacity will _______

235

Nuclear plants use uranium ____ atoms

Naturally in the earths crust

Where does uranium occur

uranium 238 and uranium 235

What are the two forms of Uranium

238 is more stable than 235

Which of the uranium’s are more stable

Mining, milling into yellow cake, purified, and enrichment

How do we obtain uranium

OK

Look up a vid on how a nuclear powerplant works (say ok)

Heat boils water which makes steam and the steam turns the turbine

what is the purpose of a Nuclear power plant

nothing is burned

How does nuclear energy differ from coal and natural gas

Fission

A large atom of one element is split into two atoms of different elements, during which neutrons are released

Fusion

Two small atoms join to form a larger atom of a different element

Neutrons

What does nuclear fission release

Chain reaction

When a high-energy neutron hits a 235 U atom

Explosion

A selff amplyfying chain reaction produces a ________

Sustaining

A_______ chain reaction is controlled by control rods, which absorb the extra neutrons

Atomic Bomb

Highly enriched U235, uncontrolled fission, reaction completed in a matter of a second, and all energy is released at once

Nuclear Power

3-5% enriched U 235, controlled fission, energy released at a controlled rate

Boiling water reactors

Uses the same water to control fission reactions and to boil and generate steam

Nuclear reactors core

Holds the fuel rods which are surrounded by the moderator fluid (near pure water)

High level wastes

Direct products of fission, high radioactive, spent uranium fuel rods

Low Level wastes

indirect products of fission, things that absorb the released neutrons, less radioactive, control rods

store them

What do you do with radioactive wastes

Years

You have to have a safe place you can store radioactive waste for _____

Half life

the time for half of the amount of a radioactive isotope to decay

Reprocessing

Most u235 and 236Pu from uranium fission is recovered and recycled for nuclear fuel, and it can be used to make bombs, so the US forbids it

Nuclear waste policy act

The federal government had to accept nuclear waste from commercial power plants starting in 1998

NIMBY, many state law prohibit nuclear waste disposal

What is the problem with waste storage

Radiation sickness

Exposure prevents replacement or repair of blood, skin, other tissues

Low doses

Cells can form malignant tumors or leukemia, damaged eggs or sperm can cause birth defects, effects of exposure may go unseen for 10-40 year, other effects: weakened immune system, mental retardation, cataracts

Chernobyl

The worst, disaster killed 31 and put thousands of others at risk of future cancer death

Fukushima

a massive earth quake and tidal wave hit the Fukushima daiichi powerplant, cutting off power and knocking out back up generators, without power and knocking out back up generators, without power, the water cooling system shut down and the reactors overheated, releasing radiation into the area around the plant.

Dt reaction

Hydrogen atoms in the forms of specific isotopes called deuterium and tritium are fused together to form helium and release energy.

electricity

How is nuclear energy used

mining

How is it obtained

nuclear fission generates heat which boils h20 and generates steam which turns the turbine

How it does its job

does not make air pollution or green house gasses

Pros

waste is radioactive for years and there are possible accidents

cons