Nuclear PowerBy Amy Crouch and Zofia Soch

➢ Nuclear power is energy harnessed from the nuclei of heavy atoms. Current reactors access nuclear energy through fission, which is the splitting of the atoms. Fusion, when atoms fuse together, produces much more power, but it requires stellar temperatures.

➢ Nuclear reactors split atoms of uranium to produce nuclear power.

What is nuclear power?

Technically, it is nonrenewable. There is a finite amount of uranium in the ground. However, technologies are being invented to extract uranium in seawater.

Renewable or nonrenewable?

Radiation was discovered by Marie Curie. Her groundbreaking work led others to research nuclear energy. Uranium itself, the fuel of nuclear reactors, was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist. He named it after the planet Uranus, which had been discovered that year.

When was it discovered?

Marie Curie and Martin Klaproth, some important people related to nuclear power

The main change in nuclear power since it was discovered is its efficiency, as our graph illustrates.

How has it changed?

The fuel of nuclear reactors is uranium. Uranium is found in rocks and seawater. It is fairly common.

Where is its fuel found?

Uranium, a heavy metal used for nuclear power. Uranium is fairly soft and very dense.

The energy is used to heat water, which produces steam which turns a turbine.

How is nuclear energy used today?

Nuclear power is used to make electricity. Since electricity is very commonly used, many industries and countries use it.

Who uses nuclear power?

This graph shows the nuclear electricity production in many countries.

Uranium must be enriched before it is used. This is because natural uranium contains very little of U-235, the isotope which is useful in nuclear reactors.

How do we get uranium from its stored state?

Although uranium does not need to be fully enriched for reacting, it does need a slightly higher concentration of U-235. This shows the enrichment process of uranium.

Advantages:★ It has a relatively low cost.★ Although it is easier to

access uranium from the ground, it can also be extracted from seawater. This makes for a lot of uranium.

★ Nuclear reactors are becoming very efficient, producing more electricity for less fuel.

★ Nuclear reactors release much less radiation and fossil fuels than coal plants.

What are some advantages and disadvantages to nuclear power?

Disadvantages:★ Nuclear reactors produce

nuclear waste. This is potentially dangerous.

★ It is possible for nuclear reactors to melt down, releasing small amounts of radiation.

★ Reactor fuel can be reprocessed. It is technically possible to use this to make nuclear weapons.

★ Uranium mining has potential damage to the environment.

http://discovery.dciu.org/videos/41727/chp943467_256k.asf

Here is an informational video.

Nuclear energy may be vital in the future. Nonrenewable energy produces greenhouse gases, which may come with heavy consequences. It will most likely be part of the future.

In addition, new technologies are being developed. Some are designed to be more efficient, some are designed to be safer, and some are even using fuels other than uranium.

Some scientists are also attempting to design fusion reactors. These will release tremendous energy and are expected to be safer. However, nuclear fusion presents technological difficulties. It is unlikely that we will be able to use fusion very soon.

Nuclear Power in the Future

The ITER, an experimental fusion reactor

✹ Nuclear energy is stored as electricity. It is then sent to places which will use it.

Where and how is nuclear energy stored?

Our nuclear power consumption has indeed gone up, as this graph illustrates.

Are we using more nuclear power now than in the past?

Uranium is mined from the ground or extracted from seawater. Here is the fuel cycle of uranium.

How is uranium recovered?

http://world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/How-does-a-nuclear-reactor-make-electricity-/#.UmE5M3Csgyohttp://world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/How-is-uranium-ore-made-into-nuclear-fuel-/#.UmE6VnCsgyoRichard Muller, Physics for Future Presidentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble_bed_modular_reactorhttp://world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Power-Reactors/Nuclear-Power-Reactors/#.UmE9GHCsgyohttp://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=urnaium#Ntt=uranium&Ntk=Allhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/518116/a-nuclear-reactor-competitive-with-natural-gas/http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/02/nuclear-energy-pros-and-cons/http://www.nei.org/Issues-Policy/Nuclear-Waste-Management/Used-Nuclear-Fuel-Storagehttp://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power4.htmhttp://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/pdf/nuclearpower-summary.pdfEwan McLeish, The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power

Bibliography