Nuclear Energy

Sarah, Ena, Alioth

Overview: What is it?

• Energy which is produced with the use of a controlled nuclear reaction.

• Some people favour an expansion of nuclear power plants because this form of energy is considered cleaner than fossil fuels such as coal.

• Although nuclear power comes with a number of problems which must be addressed, including the safe disposal of radioactive waste products.

Overview: How does it work?-Made from uranium, plutonium, and other elements to make steam that drives a electric generator.

- Atoms, the basic building blocks of all elements, are comprised of small structures

- Energy released from the reaction heats water producing steam and spinning the turbines.

-As the generator spins a magnetic field is disrupted and electricity is produced.

- Finally, the steam is cooled - condensing back to water – and process is repeated

Socio-cultural

Positives

Negatives

Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks.

No atomic energy plant in the world could withstand an attack similar to 9/11 in New York.

Such a terrorist act would have catastrophic effects for the whole world

Economy

Positives

• Industrial Uses: includes processing and sterilization of various products by means of radiation.

• Nuclear power costs about the same as coal, so it's not expensive to make.

• Produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel. Therefore, relatively large amount of energy can be produced.

Negatives

• Takes a lot of money to build and dispose of nuclear waste

• If something goes wrong can cause a major accident (Hiroshima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant)

Environmental

Solutions

• The small radio-active nuclear waste should be stored in facilities isolated from the environment by specially engineered barriers.

• Long-term: placing the waste in a deep and stable geological setting (ex/ clay) that have remained unchanged for millions of years.

• Start investing in a renewable energy like wind and solar energy.

• Throwing away the nuclear waste into the space

Thanks!