Nuclear Energy

The sun and stars are seemingly inexhaustible sources of energy. That energy is the result of nuclear reactions, in which matter is converted to energy. We have been able to harness that mechanism and regularly use it to generate power. Presently, nuclear energy provides for approximately 16% of the world s electricity. !nli"e the stars, the nuclear reactors that we have today wor" on the principle of nuclear fission. #cientists are wor"ing li"e madmen to ma"e fusion reactors which have the potential of providing more energy with fewer disadvantages than fission reactors.

Production
Changes can occur in the structure of the nuclei of atoms. These changes are called nuclear reactions. Energy created in a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy, or atomic energy. Nuclear energy is produced naturally and in man-made operations under human control.

Naturally: Some nuclear energy is produced naturally. For example, the Sun and other stars make heat and light by nuclear reactions. Man-Made: Nuclear energy can be man-made too. achines called nuclear reactors, parts of nuclear power plants, pro!ide electricity for many cities. anmade nuclear reactions also occur in the explosion of atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Nuclear energy is produced in t"o different "ays, in one, large nuclei are split to release energy. #n the other method, small nuclei are combined to release energy. For a more detailed look at nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, consult the nuclear physics page.

Nuclear Fission$ #n nuclear fission, the nuclei of atoms are split, causing energy to be released. The atomic bomb and nuclear reactors "ork by fission. The element uranium is the main fuel used to undergo nuclear fission to produce energy since it has many fa!orable properties. %ranium nuclei can be easily split by

shooting neutrons at them. &lso, once a uranium nucleus is split, multiple neutrons are released "hich are used to split other uranium nuclei. This phenomenon is kno"n as a chain reaction.

Fission of uranium 235 nucleus. &dapted from $uclear %nergy. $uclear Waste&.

Nuclear Fusion$ #n nuclear fusion, the nuclei of atoms are 'oined together, or fused. This happens only under !ery hot conditions. The Sun, like all other stars, creates heat and light through nuclear fusion. #n the Sun, hydrogen nuclei fuse to make helium. The hydrogen bomb, humanity(s most po"erful and destructi!e "eapon, also "orks by fusion. The heat re)uired to start the fusion reaction is so great that an atomic bomb is used to pro!ide it. *ydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium and in the process release huge amounts of energy thus producing a huge explosion.

Milestones in the History of Nuclear Energy

&more in depth and detailed history of nuclear energy is on the nuclear past page.

+ecember ,, -./,$ The Nuclear Age began at the %ni!ersity of Chicago "hen Enrico Fermi made a chain reaction in a pile of uranium. &ugust 0, -./1$ The %nited States dropped an atomic bomb on *iroshima, 2apan, killing o!er -33,333. &ugust ., -./1$ The %nited States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, 2apan, killing o!er /3,333. No!ember -, -.1,$ The first large !ersion of the hydrogen bomb 4thousands of times more po"erful than the atomic bomb5 "as exploded by the %nited States for testing purposes. February ,-, -.10$ The first ma'or nuclear po"er plant opened in England.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

The Earth has limited supplies of coal and oil. Nuclear po"er plants could still produce electricity after coal and oil become scarce. Nuclear po"er plants need less fuel than ones "hich burn fossil fuels. 6ne ton of uranium produces more energy than is produced by se!eral million tons of coal or se!eral million barrels of oil. Coal and oil burning plants pollute the air. 7elloperated nuclear po"er plants do not release contaminants into the en!ironment.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

The nations of the "orld no" ha!e more than enough nuclear bombs to kill e!ery person on Earth. The t"o most po"erful nations -- 8ussia and the %nited States -- ha!e about 13,333 nuclear "eapons bet"een them. 7hat if there "ere to be a nuclear "ar9 7hat if terrorists got their hands on nuclear "eapons9 6r "hat if nuclear "eapons "ere launched by accident9

Nuclear explosions produce radiation. The nuclear radiation harms the cells of the body "hich can make people sick or e!en kill them. #llness can strike people years after their exposure to nuclear radiation. 6ne possible type of reactor disaster is kno"n as a meltdown. #n such an accident, the fission reaction goes out of control, leading to a nuclear explosion and the emission of great amounts of radiation. #n -.:., the cooling system failed at the Three ile #sland nuclear reactor near *arrisburg, ;ennsyl!ania. 8adiation leaked, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. The problem "as sol!ed minutes before a total meltdo"n "ould ha!e occurred. Fortunately, there "ere no deaths. #n -.<0, a much "orse disaster struck 8ussia(s Chernobyl nuclear po"er plant. #n this incident, a large amount of radiation escaped from the reactor. *undreds of thousands of people "ere exposed to the radiation. Se!eral do=en died "ithin a fe" days. #n the years to come,

thousands more may die of cancers induced by the radiation. Nuclear reactors also ha!e "aste disposal problems. 8eactors produce nuclear "aste products "hich emit dangerous radiation. >ecause they could kill people "ho touch them, they cannot be thro"n a"ay like ordinary garbage. Currently, many nuclear "astes are stored in special cooling pools at the nuclear reactors. The %nited States plans to mo!e its nuclear "aste to a remote underground dump by the year ,3-3. #n -.1:, at a dump site in 8ussia(s %ral ountains, se!eral hundred miles from osco", buried nuclear "astes mysteriously exploded, killing do=ens of people. Nuclear reactors only last for about forty to fifty years.

The Future of Nuclear Energy

Some people think that nuclear energy is here to stay and "e must learn to li!e "ith it. 6thers say that "e should get rid of all nuclear "eapons and po"er plants. >oth sides ha!e their cases as there are ad!antages and disad!antages to nuclear energy. Still others ha!e opinions that fall some"here in bet"een. 7hat do you think "e should do9 &fter re!ie"ing the pros and cons, it is up to you to formulate your o"n opinion. 8ead more about the politics of the issues or go to the forum to share your o"n opinions and see "hat others think.