QOTDO What is nuclear energy?O 3-5 sentences

Nuclear EnergyPhysical Science

Mr. Dunnum

What is Nuclear Energy?

O Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe.

O Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom.

O There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold the nucleus together. Breaking those bonds releases that energy.

Types of Nuclear Energy

Fusion Fusion exampleO Is the process that

powers the Sun and starsO Fusion is the combining

of two atoms together and it generates an enormous amount of energy

O We are close but we are still not close to making fusion power

Types of Nuclear Energy

Fission Fission picture

O In nuclear fission, energy is released when atoms are split or break apart to form a smaller atom.

Nuclear FuelO The fuel most widely used by nuclear

plants for nuclear fission is uranium.O Uranium is nonrenewable, though it

is a common metal found in rocks all over the world.

O Nuclear plants use a certain kind of uranium, referred to as U-235. 

Half-lifeO Is the time it takes for half of the

atoms in a pure sample of the isotope to decay into another element

O It is a measure of the stability of an isotope; the shorter the half life, the less stable the atom

Alpha/Beta O Alpha ParticlesO a positively charged 

particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons, emitted in radioactive decay or nuclear fission(helium)

O Not harmful to humans unless ingested

O Beta ParticlesO High speed

electron omitted by a radioactive nucleus during beta decay

O Can cause cancer but develop relatively slow

Gamma O GammaO More energetic form

of electromagnetic radiation

O More penetrating than alpha and beta particles

O Nuclear weaponsO Causes burns,

cancer, and gene mutations x-men