Book 5

Unit 3.3
Applications of
nuclear energy
Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Let’s begin Mutant butterfly

Nuclear power

Checkpoint 3

Nuclear weapons

Spread of nuclear radiation

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Let’s begin Mutant butterfly

After the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011,
some butterflies there were found to have
abnormal appearances.

Do you know why the butterfly has such changes?

Answer
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
Recall:
Nuclear fission and fusion can release huge
amounts of energy.

If the release of energy can be controlled, such

energy can be used to generate electricity.
 Useful source of power

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
Nuclear power stations make use of controlled
nuclear fission to generate electricity.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
i Generating electricity by nuclear power
In a nuclear power station, fission of the nuclear fuel
(e.g. enriched U-235) occurs in the nuclear reactor.

To generate electricity:
The heat released from fission heats up the water.
 Steam is produced.
 The turbine moves to drive the alternator.
∴ Energy released by fission  electrical energy

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Example 7 Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station

The Daya Bay Nuclear Power station consists

of 2 reactors, each having a capacity of 900 MW
(1 MW = 106 W).
(a) Calculate the maximum energy supplied by
the power station in 1 hour.
Max. energy supplied
= 2  900  106  3600
= 6.48  1012 J

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Example 7 Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station

The power station consists of 2 reactors.

Maximum energy supplied in 1 hour = 6.48  1012 J
(b) Efficiency of the power station = 33.3%
Find the energy released by the fuel in 1 hour.
energy supplied by the reactor
Efficiency =
energy released by the fuel
Energy released by the uranium fuel
energy supplied by the reactor
=
efficiency
6.48  1012
= = 1.946  1013 J  1.95  1013 J
33.3%
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Example 7 Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station

The power station consists of 2 reactors.

Energy released by the fuel in 1 hour = 1.946  1013 J
(c) In the reactors, U-235 is used as fuel. Find the
mass of U-235 fuel used in 1 hour.
(Energy released in a fission reaction = 3.2  10–11 J,
mass of a U-235 nucleus = 3.90  10–25 kg)
1.946  1013
Number of reactions in 1 hour =
3.2  10–11
= 6.081  1023
Mass of U-235 spent in 1 hour
= 6.081  1023  3.90  10–25 = 0.237 kg
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

(a) Energy is generated in a nuclear power station

by nuclear fission.
(i) One of the reactions in a nuclear reactor:
92 U + 0 n
235 1
 40 Zr + 52 Te + 3 0 n
94 a 1

Find a and state its physical meaning.

Consider the mass numbers.
235 + 1 = 94 + a + 3  1
a = 139
It is the mass number of Te.

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

(a) Energy is generated in a nuclear power station by

nuclear fission.
(ii) The uranium fuel undergoes a chain
reaction to generate electricity. How is the
chain reaction triggered and sustained?
 A uranium-235 nucleus captures a slow neutron.
 Fission occurs.
 If the fission releases one or more neutrons and if
there are enough U-235 nuclei nearby,
these neutrons can continue splitting the nuclei.
 A chain reaction occurs.
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

(b) Energy is generated in the sun by nuclear fusion.

One of the reactions taking place in the sun:
1
1 H + 1
1 H  2
1 H + 1e
0 +

(i) Energy released in this reaction = ? (in MeV)

Given: mass of 1 H = 1.007 276 u, mass of 1 H = 2.013 553 u
1 2

mass of 01 e+ = 0.000 549 u,

1 u = 931 MeV = 1.661  10–27 kg

Energy released in the reaction

= 1.007 276  2 – (2.013 553 + 0.000 549)
= 0.000 45 u= 0.000 45  931 MeV = 0.419 MeV
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

(b) Energy is generated in the sun by nuclear fusion.

1
1 H + 1
1 H  2
1 H + 1e
0 +

(ii) Suppose 1 g of 11 H undergoes this reaction

completely. Find the total energy released in MeV.
Total energy released

mass of 11 H available  energy released

= in one reaction
mass of 11 H in each reaction
0.001  0.419
=
1.007
= 1.25 276 MeV
 10 23  2  1.661  10 –27

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
ii Nuclear waste
 Nuclear waste produced by nuclear power stati
ons is radioactive.
 Radionuclides contained usually have long half-lives.
∴ Special handling and storage approaches are ne
eded.
 The waste should be sealed in steel container an
d stored underground.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Low-level waste is buried

near the surface.

Waste is covered by soil.

clay

concrete

High-level waste is buried several Intermediate-level waste is buried

hundred metres under the ground. under a few meters of clay.
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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iii Potential hazards
Leakage of radioactive substances from disposal
sites or from nuclear stations
 Our health and the environment will be seriously
affected.
 Common fission products emitting  radiation:
 Iodine-131 (I-131)
 Caesium-137 (Cs-137)
 Strontium-90 (Sr-90)
They pose hazards in many ways.
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iii Potential hazards
Health effects of some radioactive substances:
Half-life Effects
I-131 8 days  Concentrates in thyroid
 increases the risk of thyroid cancer
or other thyroid problems
Cs-137 30 years  Stored in soft tissues  causes cancer
 Soluble in water  contaminates soil
and crops
Sr-90 29 years  Concentrates in bones and teeth
 causes bone cancer and leukaemia
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iii Potential hazards
Recall:
Nuclear radiation can cause damage to healthy
cells of organisms due to its ionizing property.
 Such damage may lead to mutation.
 Changes the DNA structure
 Changes the physical appearance of organisms
 Affects the function of the cells
 If mutation occurs in reproductive cells, the
damage may be passed on to the next generation.
Let’s begin
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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iii Potential hazards
The butterfly has abnormal appearances ∵
Exposure to nuclear
radiation
 Damage to
healthy cells
 Mutation

Let’s begin
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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iv Benefits and disadvantages
Nuclear energy is a powerful energy source but
potentially dangerous at the same time.
 Supporters’ arguments:
The fuel is small in size It’s cheaper than coal or oil
and causes fewer for generating electricity.
transportation problems.
It can help solve the It causes little
energy shortage crisis. environmental
pollution.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iv Benefits and disadvantages
 Opponents’ arguments:
Using nuclear energy pro
duces greenhouse gas an
The use of nuclear energy d leads to thermal pollutio
Future energy needs will lead to the growth of n of water.
can be met by using nuclear weapons. Nuclear
renewable energy accident may
sources and by happen.
conservation.
Handling and
storing nuclear
waste cause
serious safety
problems.

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
a Controlled nuclear fission
iv Benefits and disadvantages

Nuclear energy can help solve the world’s

future energy shortage crisis and reduce
the problems caused by the burning of
fossil fuels, but there are serious social
and environmental problems involved.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
b Controlled nuclear fusion
Controlled nuclear fusion has advantages over
nuclear fission when used as an energy source:
1 The fusion fuel (hydrogen-2) is plentiful in
seawater.
 Low cost
2 The fusion product (helium) is inert and
non-radioactive.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear power
b Controlled nuclear fusion
However, there are many technical problems to
make controlled nuclear fusion a practical reality:
1 It is difficult to maintain the high temperature
(107 C) required for fusion to occur.
2 No actual solid container can withstand such a
high temperature.
Research on generating electricity by controlled
fusion is still continuing.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Checkpoint 3
1 Which of the following will cause pollution when
used to generate electricity?
(1) Natural gas
(2) Uranium-235
(3) Oil
A (2) only B (1) and (2) only
C (1) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Checkpoint 3
2 Nuclear (fission/fusion) is carried out in the Day
a Bay Nuclear Power Station to generate electri
city.

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Checkpoint 3
3 Which of the following is an advantage of using
coal over nuclear energy for generating
electricity?
A Fewer fuel transportation problems
B Less air pollution in generating electricity
C More energy given out per unit mass of
fuel
D None of the above

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear weapons
a Atomic bomb
 An atomic bomb releases a
huge amount of heat and
nuclear radiation by
uncontrolled nuclear fission.
 The bomb is detonated when
the enriched fuel inside the
bomb exceeds critical
mass.
 Achieved by forcing two
separated lumps of fuel
together quickly.
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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear weapons
a Atomic bomb
The concentration of bomb fuel found in nature is
very low.
 Complicated processes are needed to increase
the concentration when making the bombs.

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear weapons
b Hydrogen bomb and neutron bomb
Hydrogen bomb:
 Produced by man-made uncontrolled fusion
 Triggered by an uncontrolled fission (an atomic
bomb) which provides a high temperature
 Generally 100 to 1000 times more destructive
than the atomic bomb

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Nuclear weapons
b Hydrogen bomb and neutron bomb
Neutron bomb:
 Similar to hydrogen bomb except that it explodes
at high altitude
 Produces neutrons which travel to the ground
level and destroy life but not the buildings

Nuclear weapons (atomic bomb, hydrogen

bomb and neutron bomb) were developed
from physics principles. They have great
destructive powers.

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Spread of nuclear radiation

a Exposure pathways
 Radioactive gas and dust (e.g. released from a
nuclear power station) can be spread via various
pathways.
 Some of them may enter our bodies via:
 inhalation
 ingestion of contaminated water and food

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Spread of nuclear radiation

a Exposure pathways

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Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Spread of nuclear radiation

b Monitoring background radiation
Level of background radiation:
 Usually very low
 Unlikely to cause harmful effects
 Should be monitored to safeguard against any
rise due to unnecessary exposure or accidents

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Spread of nuclear radiation

b Monitoring background radiation
The Hong Kong Observatory has been monitoring ra
dioactivity in air since 1961.
 In 1987, the nuclear
power station at Daya
Bay started to construct.
 Further monitors
the radioactivity in
soil, food, water,
etc Collecting airborne particulate
sample by Observatory staff.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.3 Applications of nuclear energy

Spread of nuclear radiation

b Monitoring background radiation
Twelve fixed radiation monitoring stations are set up
to monitor the real-time  radiation levels.

- The End -
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