Nuclear Energy Research Paper

Submitted By morilg
Words: 1849
Pages: 8
Open Document
Nuclear Energy (Word Count: 1774)
Levi Moritz
Upper Iowa University

"On July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the fission (atomic) bomb; it was the first nuclear reaction to ever be tested" (pbs.org). In the beginning, an intense flash of light flooded the valley as observers witnessed from their bunkers 10 kilometers away. Within two seconds, a massive fireball expanded 600 meters throughout the sky and boiled 12 kilometers high into the shape of a mushroom. Nearly a minute later, hot air blasted against the observation bunkers with a long, deafening roar. "The explosion was just as predicted and had the force equivalent to the explosive output of 20,000 tons of TNT" (Educator’s Assoc, Inc). Since the discovery of nuclear power it has been responsible for an alternative energy source, radioactive contamination, medical advances, and defensive warfare. A nuclear bomb is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear chain reactions. There are two basic types: one sustains only nuclear fission reactions (atomic bomb) and the other uses fission to begin nuclear fusion reactions (hydrogen bomb). Although, fusion bombs can produce a much larger yield than the limited explosive force of a fission bomb, they're both created from the Uranium atom. Uranium-238 is the most common isotope (weight) of Uranium found in nature. Once obtained, the mass is enriched by increasing its proportion of Uranium-235 isotopes through a process called isotope separation. Enriched Uranium is a fissile material and is therefore capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction. When a 235U atom is induced by a neutron it becomes an excited 236U atom and splits into two smaller parts, emitting several neutrons. If the emitted neutrons induce another 235U, it is referred to as a nuclear chain reaction. The mass is then defined by the growth of this reaction known as criticality.
[pic]
A subcritical mass has a decreasing (exponentially) chain reaction; the neutrons emitted from each splitting 236U atom must induce less than one 235U atom. The fission (atomic) bomb is two subcritical masses assembled into a supercritical mass--the amount of fissile material needed to have an increasing (exponentially) chain reaction; the neutrons emitted from each splitting 236U atom must induce more than one 235U atom. Assembling is done either by shooting one piece of subcritical material into another (the "gun" method) or by compressing a sphere of material using traditional explosives (the "implosion" method).

The "gun" and "implosion" methods are both used to create uncontrolled nuclear reactions (nuclear bombs). A controlled nuclear reaction is a fissile mass that’s fueled at a controlled rate to sustain a constant sub-criticality. Nuclear power plants use this process to boil water and create electricity. The Navy powers some of their ships and submarines by placing nuclear reactors onboard that act similar to power plants. This method is the most efficient way to generate electricity. "Uranium is as common as tin in nature and is currently being used to generate power for 16% of the world. A single kilogram (2.2 pounds) can produce as much energy as 200 barrels (8,400 gallons or 31.8 m3) of oil or 20,000 kg (44,092 pounds) of coal." (www.wisegeek.org) Although, nuclear waste does not pollute the earth like our natural resources, it is however, radioactive and can contaminate nearby matter. Fission products (waste)--the remains of the split 236U atoms--are either highly radioactive (but short-lived) or moderately radioactive (but long-lived), and as such are a serious form of radioactive contamination if not fully contained. Half-life is the time required for a given amount of radioactive material to be reduced to one-half of its original activity. The half-life values of fission products vary widely and decay at exponential rates unique to each kind. "In example, the half-life of 235U is 700 million years
Show More

Related Documents: Nuclear Energy Research Paper

Nuclear Energy Essay

Nuclear Energy: A Beginning, Not an End As a result of World War II and the Chernobyl disaster, nuclear energy was extensively perceived as a dangerous weapon that only promised “the ending of the world”. However, “the ending” proves not to be as absolute as the pressure of fear alleged it as; in fact, today, nuclear energy is now being looked at as a possible “beginning” to a world of clean and reliable energy. When radioactive elements are broken into smaller components, it releases enormous…

Words 965 - Pages 4

Nuclear Energy Essay

Nuclear Energy As the population in the world is getting larger, the demand of energy is getting higher. With advanced technology today, people started to use nuclear energy in their lives instead of using other natural resources to generate power. When we are sitting in our home, enjoying the benefit from using nuclear energy, have we thought about the disadvantage and the effect on different aspect of using nuclear power? Have we thought that the problems are not only about ourselves but also…

Words 2105 - Pages 9

Nuclear Energy Essay

Running head: NUCLEAR POWER 1 Nuclear Energy Alex Washington SCI207 Dependence of Man on the Environment Instructor: Christopher Wessinger December 10, 2012 NUCLEAR POWER 2…

Words 674 - Pages 3

The Cost Of Nuclear Energy

The nuclear energy was the best way for now, because the way we use to generate the eclectic is almost use all of the unrenewable energy to generate the electric and the nuclear power will actually be the nuclear energy. The way the nuclear power have the advantage of was the cost money of buying the ground will be more less than the other way it have . The nuclear power is the way to generate the heat by the nuclear reaction, and through the steam turbine to generate the electricity in the nuclear…

Words 975 - Pages 4

Nuclear Energy Essay

heard of nuclear energy several times dealing with things like the atomic bomb but did you realize how effective and important it. Initially, I’ve learned that Nuclear Energy is the safest, cleanest, cheapest, and most efficient type of energy there is. Nuclear energy comes from nuclear reactions. Changes can occur in the structure of the nuclei of atom and these changes are called nuclear reactions. Energy created in a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy, or atomic energy. Nuclear energy is actually…

Words 546 - Pages 3

Nuclear Energy Essay

Introduction: Nuclear energy is a comparatively new source of energy. The first nuclear power plant was commissioned in June 1954 in Obninsk, Russia. Fossil fuels offer a limited source of energy, as they are non-renewable. Eventually these supplies will cease, this is predicted to be in the next few decades. An estimate based on fuel consumption in America, predicts as early as 2020 there will be no fossil fuels left. The energy used by the whole world is approximated to be the coal equivalent…

Words 1798 - Pages 8

nuclear energy Essay

the Nuclear Energy Convention Humans are constantly inventing and innovating, thus increasing the speed of advance in technology. As technology advances, one problem is created; the need for more energy. Although advancements have created energy efficient products and methods to generate electricity, none of the methods have come close to the amount of electricity created by nuclear energy. While there are many reasons to go against nuclear energy, the reasons for supporting nuclear energy exceed…

Words 483 - Pages 2

Nuclear Energy Research Paper

been using energy since the first humans have walked the Earth. As time moved on humans started to harness many forms of energy so that they could accomplish many tasks. Once discovered, fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy in the last couple of centuries. With political and scarcity problems countries have been looking for alternative cleaner sources of energy. Nuclear and solar energy are two of the cleanest high output forms of energy to date. These two forms of energy are very different…

Words 1388 - Pages 6

Essay about Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy and reactors are a big part in France. Seventy five percent of France’s electricity is from nuclear energy. France is the world’s largest net exporter of electricity due to its very low cost of generation. They are also very active in developing nuclear technology. Unlike America, nuclear energy is accepted in France and even popular. Nuclear reactors are a controversial issue no matter what country you look at all around the world. There are many different pros and cons that can be…

Words 376 - Pages 2

NUCLEAR ENERGY POSTION Essay

NUCLEAR ENERGY POSTION PRO • THE AUDITED ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT STATEMENT OF THE VATTENFALL ENERGY UTILITY SHOWS THAT THEIR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS EMIT LESS THE GREENHOUSE GASES OF COAL. • IF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, THE TOTAL LEVELISED COST OF NUCLEAR POWER INCLUDING CONTRUCTION, OPERATIONAL, WASTE DISPOSAL AND DECOMMISSIONING COSTS IS IN THE RANGE 3 - 5 CENTS PER KILOWATT-HOUR. • NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS PAY BACK THE ENERGY REQUIRED TO BUILD THEM IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OF OPERATION. CONS 1. ENVIRONMENTAL…

Words 757 - Pages 4