Nuclear Energy

By: Guneet Singh Ankit Paul Sharang Arora Kavleen Chawla Rohit Arora

What is Nuclear Energy?

The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom and released through fission, fusion, or radioactivity. Also called atomic energy.

Nuclear energy is produced naturally and in man-made operations under manhuman 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. Machines called nuclear reactors, parts of nuclear power plants, provide electricity for many cities. Man-made nuclear reactions also occur in the explosion of atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Nuclear energy is produced in two different ways:

 Nuclear Fission (In one, large nuclei are split to release energy.)  Nuclear Fusion (In the other method, small nuclei are combined to release energy.)

Nuclear Fission
 It is a nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus splits into fragments, usually two fragments of comparable mass, emitting 100 million to several hundred million volts of energy.

Nuclear Fusion
 A process in which several small nuclei combine to make a larger one whose mass is slightly smaller than the sum of the small ones. The difference in mass is converted to energy E = mc2  In stars, hydrogen fuses into helium. The energy emitted by fusion prevents the star from collapsing in on itself and causes the star to glow.

Why use Nuclear Energy?

 Medical Diagnosis: X-Rays, Chemotherapy Treatments.  Space and Futuristic Applications  Electricity  Nuclear Transport: Nuclear Submarines are of the most lethal weapons capable of staying under water for very long periods which diesel submarines are incapable of.  Food and Agriculture

 Requires larger capital cost Fuel is inexpensive because of emergency, Energy generation is the containment, radioactive most concentrated source waste and storage systems Waste is more compact Requires resolution of the than any source long-term high level waste Extensive scientific basis storage issue in most for the cycle countries Easy to transport as new Potential nuclear fuel proliferation issue No greenhouse or acid rain effects

Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Disasters and Accidents