nuclear energy christopher liu, michael coppinger apes, period 4
TRANSCRIPT
Nuclear EnergyChristopher Liu, Michael Coppinger
APES, Period 4
What is Nuclear Energy?
•Energy derived from nuclear reactions.o Currently, only through nuclear
fission
How Does It Work?: Nuclear Fission
•Decay of an atom into two different atoms
•Produces energy (as heat) and additional neutrons as products
How Does It Work?: Nuclear Reactors
How are We Using It?: Domestic
•Current number of reactors in the US: 104
Local Reactors:•Diablo Canyon
o San Luis Obispo
•San Onofreo 45 miles SE of
Long Beach
How are We Using it?: Domestic
•US is THE largest producer of nuclear energy
•Accounts for 19% of total energy output
•Produces 821 billion kWHs of energy annually
How are We Using It?: International
•17% of energy production worldwide
•Over 430 plants
•Majority used for electricity production
What are the Advantages?
•NO emissions
•NO air pollution
•NO water pollution
•Once built, reliable and cheap energy
•Uses small amounts of land
•Abundant fuel source
What are the Disadvantages?
•Produces radioactive wasteo Must be stored and
managed for thousands of years
•Potential terrorist acquisition
•Possibility of accidentso Chernobyl o Fukushima
How Likely is an Accident?
•Only three major accidentso Chernobyl (Doesn't count, they're Soviets)o Three Mile Island (Radiation was entirely contained)o Fukushima
•No known terrorist acquisitions
So, It's Safe?
•Coal vs. Nuclear; 4,000 deaths: 1 death
•One of the safest forms of energy production
What Can We Expect in the Future?
•Nuclear use will expand in futureo China and India
•Possibility of cold fusion technology
•Radioactive waste?o Geological
Repositorieso Waste Reusel
Bibliography
http://nuclearenergyissafe.weebly.com/the-science.html
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/list-power-reactor-units.html
http://mapawatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/US_net_generation_source_pie_chart_2010.jpg
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.htmlhttp://www.fi.edu/guide/wester/benefits.htmlhttp://www.the9billion.com/2011/03/24/death-rate-
from-nuclear-power-vs-coal/http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/149090-
nasas-cold-fusion-tech-could-put-a-nuclear-reactor-in-every-home-car-and-plane