Nuclear Power

By Filip, Adam and Sam


What is nuclear Power? What is nuclear fission?
 Nuclear energy is the  Nuclear fission is the
energy in the nucleus, or dividing of several heavy
core, of an atom.​ fissile atoms 26​.
 When performing nuclear
 There is a huge amount of fission, a neutron collides
with fissile atoms and splits
energy in an atom's dense
it. ​
nucleus.
 The splitting releases huge
amounts of energy through
heat and radiation. ​
 Some neutrons fire out,
which can then reoccur and
form a so-called chain
reaction.
 The high amount of energy
us humans can use as a
source of energy. ​
How do nuclear Generators
What is the Energy source?
work?
 The heat created by nuclear Uranium
fission warms the reactor’s • atoms easily split apart
cooling agent: usually water • easy to control
. • cheap
 ​The cooling agent, heated
Thorium
by nuclear fission, produces •
abundant
steam.​ • environmentally friendly
 The steam turns turbines, • expensive
or wheels turned by
a flowing current.​
 The turbines drive
generators, or engines that
create electricity.
 Benefits of using nuclear
energy
Some benefits when using nuclear fission
include:
• Yield of energy: when compared to burning
coal, oil, or gas, nuclear fission provides 1
million times more energy per kg. ⁶
• Produces zero carbon emissions. ⁷​
• Low lifecycle emissions​.
• Recyclable. ¹⁶
Negatives of using nuclear
energy
Some negatives when using nuclear fission
include: ​
• High cost of constructing the nuclear reactor: can
begin at a fee of 60 million ¹⁷
• Releases an amount of nuclear waste​
• Atomic bomb: ​
a) unethical ordeal​
b) monumental environmental damage and
radioactive hazards​
1986 Chernobyl Disaster: ​
• Nuclear reactor explosion released a radioactive plume,
causing immediate devastation.​

Environmental Impact: ​
• Red Forest emerged; local fauna, including fish and livestock,
succumbed to high radiation levels.​
Global Fallout: ​
• Radiation spread to distant regions like Scotland and Ireland,
impacting ecosystems.​
Human Relocation: ​
• Over 100,000 people were relocated in the aftermath.​
Long-Term Health Effects: ​
• Delayed radiation-
related illnesses, including cancers, complicated quantifying the hum
an toll.​
Global Consequences: ​
• Farreaching impact highlighted the destructive power of nuclear acci
dents.​
• Conclusive Note: ​
• The Chernobyl disaster underscored the devastating effects on local
environments and human populations.​
​
Nuclear Fission in the UK

Nuclear Fission in the UK:​

•Plays a pivotal role in electricity generation.​
•Involves controlled nuclear fission reactions, splitting atomic
nuclei to release substantial energy.​

Reliability and Low Carbon:​

•Nuclear fission provides a reliable energy source.​
•Addresses the UK's energy needs while minimizing
carbon emissions.​

Sustainability Focus:​
•Supports the pursuit of sustainable power generation.​
•Aligns with efforts to reduce environmental impact.​
 sources
•26: 23: Stephen Pole. Complete Physics for Cambridge IGCSE. Oxford University Press, 1999, pages 260-263​
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Nov. 2023.​
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Nov. 2023.​
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%20reactors%20is%20recyclable
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