¶ … Nuclear Energy
Ever since an Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi succeeded in producing the first nuclear chain reaction at the University of Chicago in December of 1942 the usefulness and the drawbacks of nuclear energy have been debated all over the world. While the opponents of nuclear energy point to its enormously destructive power unleashed in atomic bombs, and the potentially harmful effects of radiation that can be released in nuclear reactor accidents and from nuclear waste -- its proponents emphasize the important benefits of the technology such as its application for producing cheap, plentiful and 'clean' electricity. In this paper we shall focus on the benefits of nuclear energy and discuss why we should use it? While doing so we shall also examine the concerns regarding the use of nuclear power and describe ways of overcoming them.
Types of Nuclear Reactions
There are two types of nuclear reactions through which nuclear energy can be released: by fission (splitting) of a heavy nucleus, or by fusion (combining) of two light nuclei. Both processes result in release of enormous amounts of energy since the products of the reactions have a higher binding energy than the reactants. Most present day nuclear reactors are based on the "fission" process. "Fusion" is a promising method of producing energy because fusion does not create radioactive products. However, fusion reactions are difficult to maintain as the nuclei repel each other. ("Nuclear Energy"-Encarta, 2003)
Energy Release in Nuclear Reactions
The major source of energy since the industrial revolution has been fossil fuels -- coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Energy is derived from fossil fuels by burning (a chemical reaction), e.g., when coal is burned heat is released, equivalent to about 1.6 kilowatt-hours per kilogram or about 10 electron volts (eV) per atom of carbon. On the other hand, a nuclear fission reaction releases ten million times as much energy from an equivalent mass of fuel. In practical units, the fission of 1 kg (2.2 lb) of uranium-235 releases 18.7 million kilowatt-hours as heat. (Ibid.) This enormous amount of energy released in a nuclear reaction amply illustrates its destructive potential as well as its potential for producing...
Nuclear Energy Introduction Nuclear energy is an energy source that has zero emissions, propels our society into the future, and provides electricity around-the-clock. Nuclear energy comes from the splitting of atoms inside a reactor through a process known as fission to heat water into steam, turn a turbine, and generate electricity. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. These atoms have enormous energy in the bonds that
Nuclear Energy: Risks vs. Reward Every source of energy has its own drawbacks. This is more so the case taking into consideration the recent energy source related accidents including but not limited to coal-mining mishaps, the nuclear crisis in Japan, the B.P. oil spill, etc. In this text, I will amongst other things concern myself with nuclear power and the consequences associated with the development of the same. As I have already
Nuclear Power Disadvantages of nuclear energy and its comparison with other sources of energy Comparison of nuclear energy with other sources of energy Nuclear energy does have advantages over other sources of energy like fossil fuels (coal, gas etc.) because nuclear energy makes less pollution and nuclear energy supplies more power than any other source of energy. All sources of energy do have some disadvantages. Some of them are discussed here; Fossil fuel It makes
The Manhattan Project: In 1939, the Army Corps of Engineers established the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. Under the direction of physicist Robert J. Oppenheimer, the three research facilities initiated a coordinated accelerated research into purifying natural Uranium238 into weapons grade Uranium 235 and irradiating Uranium 238 to produce Plutonium239 for use in two different types of fission weapons (Rennie 2003). The other major
Downside of Nuclear Energy: Energy production has been a major issue that has attracted huge concerns in the recent past because of the negative environmental impacts associated with generating energy through burning of fossil fuels. A growing interest in nuclear power has significantly increases during this period as it is considered as a real solution to energy security and means of dealing with climate change. Actually, there have been concerns
Meta-Analysis of Nuclear Energy and Waste Disposal in Social Sustainability A Dissertation Presented using the Meta-Analysis Technique Komi Emmanuel Fiagbe Gbedegan Christina Anastasia PH-D, Chair [Committee Name], [Degree], Committee Member [Committee Name], [Degree], Committee Member Date Approved Komi Emmanuel Fiagbe Gbedegan, 2016 This research proposal explores the link between public perceptions of nuclear power, how those perceptions are formed, and what influence those opinions have on energy policy. These issues are important in light of two realities.
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