Fiveable
Fiveable

or

Log in

Find what you need to study


Light

Find what you need to study

6.6 Nuclear Power

3 min readfebruary 15, 2023

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

What is Nuclear Energy?

is the process of harvesting electrical energy from the nuclear reaction through the process of nuclear fission or fusion. is harvested through the use of the radioactive element, uranium, or sometimes plutonium. 

The total supply of the world’s uranium is limited (non-renewable) and is irreplaceable after it has been all used up for energy. The scarcity of uranium makes a hard-to-find resource. power plants are seen in countries that delegate more money and research to the benefits and usage of nuclear power.

Process of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Fission 

One way nuclear power is generated is through fission. Nuclear fission is the process where atoms of (the most common type of uranium) are split after being struck by a neutron. Nuclear atoms are constantly being split into 2 smaller parts which release heat that is converted into energy. This causes a of more neutrons being released which causes heat. 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F1.JPG?alt=media&token=a7ca3fc3-9073-4591-952f-f08d46d00b39

are used to control the amount of neutrons inside the reactor chain. The heat from the reaction in turn is used to boil water which will turn into steam. The steam then spins turbines that contain magnets inside, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy.  

Nuclear Fusion 

Nuclear fusion is the result of two or more smaller subatomic particles combining to form different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. For example, in a fusion reactor hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms, neutrons, and release massive amounts of energy. This type of reaction most closely resembles the type of reactions that help power the sun. 

Nuclear fission leads to large amounts of heat being released. 

Benefits 👍🏻

Drawbacks 👎🏻

  • Low operating costs 

  • No pollutant pollution 

  • Nuclear Accidents 

    •  

    • Explosion 

 

Nuclear Accidents 

Because Nuclear power plants deal with an intense amount of heat, gases, and by products, any sort of accident can lead to damaging health and environmental effects. Some examples of nuclear accidents that can occur are meltdowns, explosions, , radioactive elements being exposed to the environment or people. 

using that remains radioactive for a long time and is difficult to dispose of in a way that will not contaminate groundwater. Nuclear power generation is a because of the replenishment rate of . It is however considered a cleaner energy source because it releases and hazardous solid waste instead of air pollution. 

  1. , 1970Cooling malfunction in reactor #2 

    1. Effect leakage of radioactive gas 

  2. , 1986  ➱ Nuclear lead to a power surge that affected the cooling system 

    1. Fatalities from hot pressurized steam released and then from

  3. , 2011A tsunami struck the nuclear power plants near the shore which led to explosions in reactor buildings after the cooling system failed due to loss of power. 

    1. Radioactive materials leaked into the environment.

Key Terms to Review (10)

Chain reaction

: A chain reaction is a self-sustaining series of nuclear fission reactions in which the products of one reaction trigger subsequent reactions. It releases an enormous amount of energy and is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs.

Chernobyl

: Chernobyl refers to a catastrophic nuclear accident that took place in 1986 at the No. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. It was caused by an explosion and fire resulting from a flawed reactor design and operator errors.

Control rods

: Control rods are devices made from materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons and regulate the rate of fission reactions within a nuclear reactor. By inserting or withdrawing control rods, operators can control the power output and prevent overheating.

Fukushima Daiichi

: Fukushima Daiichi refers to a nuclear disaster that occurred in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. It was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, leading to meltdowns, hydrogen explosions, and the release of radioactive materials.

Non-renewable Energy Source

: A non-renewable energy source refers to an energy resource that cannot be replenished or regenerated at a rate comparable to its consumption. These sources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), are finite and will eventually run out if used excessively.

Nuclear energy

: Nuclear energy is the energy released from the nucleus of an atom through processes like nuclear fission or fusion. It is a powerful and efficient source of electricity generation.

Radioactive Waste

: Radioactive waste is any material that contains radioactive substances produced as a byproduct from nuclear power generation, medical treatments, research activities, or industrial applications. It poses significant health risks due to its emission of ionizing radiation which can cause cancer and genetic mutations.

Thermal pollution

: Thermal pollution occurs when there is an increase in temperature in natural bodies of water due to human activities. It can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems by reducing oxygen levels and disrupting the balance of species living in the water.

Three Mile Island

: Three Mile Island refers to a nuclear power plant accident that occurred in 1979 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was caused by a partial meltdown of the reactor core.

Uranium-235

: Uranium-235 is a radioactive isotope of uranium that can undergo nuclear fission, releasing a large amount of energy. It is used as fuel in nuclear reactors and as the primary material for making atomic bombs.

6.6 Nuclear Power

3 min readfebruary 15, 2023

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

Karla Jauregui Sandoval

What is Nuclear Energy?

is the process of harvesting electrical energy from the nuclear reaction through the process of nuclear fission or fusion. is harvested through the use of the radioactive element, uranium, or sometimes plutonium. 

The total supply of the world’s uranium is limited (non-renewable) and is irreplaceable after it has been all used up for energy. The scarcity of uranium makes a hard-to-find resource. power plants are seen in countries that delegate more money and research to the benefits and usage of nuclear power.

Process of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Fission 

One way nuclear power is generated is through fission. Nuclear fission is the process where atoms of (the most common type of uranium) are split after being struck by a neutron. Nuclear atoms are constantly being split into 2 smaller parts which release heat that is converted into energy. This causes a of more neutrons being released which causes heat. 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F1.JPG?alt=media&token=a7ca3fc3-9073-4591-952f-f08d46d00b39

are used to control the amount of neutrons inside the reactor chain. The heat from the reaction in turn is used to boil water which will turn into steam. The steam then spins turbines that contain magnets inside, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy.  

Nuclear Fusion 

Nuclear fusion is the result of two or more smaller subatomic particles combining to form different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. For example, in a fusion reactor hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms, neutrons, and release massive amounts of energy. This type of reaction most closely resembles the type of reactions that help power the sun. 

Nuclear fission leads to large amounts of heat being released. 

Benefits 👍🏻

Drawbacks 👎🏻

  • Low operating costs 

  • No pollutant pollution 

  • Nuclear Accidents 

    •  

    • Explosion 

 

Nuclear Accidents 

Because Nuclear power plants deal with an intense amount of heat, gases, and by products, any sort of accident can lead to damaging health and environmental effects. Some examples of nuclear accidents that can occur are meltdowns, explosions, , radioactive elements being exposed to the environment or people. 

using that remains radioactive for a long time and is difficult to dispose of in a way that will not contaminate groundwater. Nuclear power generation is a because of the replenishment rate of . It is however considered a cleaner energy source because it releases and hazardous solid waste instead of air pollution. 

  1. , 1970Cooling malfunction in reactor #2 

    1. Effect leakage of radioactive gas 

  2. , 1986  ➱ Nuclear lead to a power surge that affected the cooling system 

    1. Fatalities from hot pressurized steam released and then from

  3. , 2011A tsunami struck the nuclear power plants near the shore which led to explosions in reactor buildings after the cooling system failed due to loss of power. 

    1. Radioactive materials leaked into the environment.

Key Terms to Review (10)

Chain reaction

: A chain reaction is a self-sustaining series of nuclear fission reactions in which the products of one reaction trigger subsequent reactions. It releases an enormous amount of energy and is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs.

Chernobyl

: Chernobyl refers to a catastrophic nuclear accident that took place in 1986 at the No. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. It was caused by an explosion and fire resulting from a flawed reactor design and operator errors.

Control rods

: Control rods are devices made from materials like boron or cadmium that absorb neutrons and regulate the rate of fission reactions within a nuclear reactor. By inserting or withdrawing control rods, operators can control the power output and prevent overheating.

Fukushima Daiichi

: Fukushima Daiichi refers to a nuclear disaster that occurred in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. It was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, leading to meltdowns, hydrogen explosions, and the release of radioactive materials.

Non-renewable Energy Source

: A non-renewable energy source refers to an energy resource that cannot be replenished or regenerated at a rate comparable to its consumption. These sources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), are finite and will eventually run out if used excessively.

Nuclear energy

: Nuclear energy is the energy released from the nucleus of an atom through processes like nuclear fission or fusion. It is a powerful and efficient source of electricity generation.

Radioactive Waste

: Radioactive waste is any material that contains radioactive substances produced as a byproduct from nuclear power generation, medical treatments, research activities, or industrial applications. It poses significant health risks due to its emission of ionizing radiation which can cause cancer and genetic mutations.

Thermal pollution

: Thermal pollution occurs when there is an increase in temperature in natural bodies of water due to human activities. It can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems by reducing oxygen levels and disrupting the balance of species living in the water.

Three Mile Island

: Three Mile Island refers to a nuclear power plant accident that occurred in 1979 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was caused by a partial meltdown of the reactor core.

Uranium-235

: Uranium-235 is a radioactive isotope of uranium that can undergo nuclear fission, releasing a large amount of energy. It is used as fuel in nuclear reactors and as the primary material for making atomic bombs.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.