1. Nuclear Power

2. Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the US.

3. Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the World

4. Do Nuclear Power plants Pollute?

5. No they don’t. This is Steam being released.

6. Nuclear Power Plant Operation

7. Uranium ore

8. Nuclear Reactor Fuel
Uranium ore is
refined then
formed into
pellets.

9. Nuclear Reactor Fuel These Pellets are then put into Fuel
rods which are
Assembled Into
packs of Fuel Rod
Assemblies

10. Nuclear Reaction

11. This cannot Happen

12. Parts Of an Atom
Protons
Neutrons
electrons

13. Protons Protons have a positive charge and are located
in the nucleus of the atom.

14. Neutrons
Neutrons are located in
the nucleus and have
no charge

15. Electrons Electron are found on The outside of the atom.
An electrically balanced
atom will have the same
number of electrons
and protons

16. What is Nuclear Decay?
Nuclear decay is when the nucleus goes through a splitting process called nuclear Fission resulting in a different element(s) along with other products including ionizing radiation.

17. How this can be dangerous
How we can protect ourselves
- Types will be discussed later
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation is produced by unstable atoms. Unstable atoms differ from stable atoms because they have an excess of energy or mass or both.
Unstable atoms are said to be radioactive. In order to reach stability, these atoms give off, or emit, the excess energy or mass. These emissions are called radiation.

18. 4 types of ionizing Radiation
Alpha  Helium Nucleus
Beta  Electron
Gamma  EM Radiation
Neutrons N0
These are other products that
can be produced along with the new element

19. Radioactive Atom
Ionizing Radiation
alpha particle
beta particle
Neutron
X-ray
gamma ray

20. Alpha radiation  Nucleus of a helium atom Symbolically represented: 
Chemically written: 4He2
Least Destructive Radiation
Can be stopped by a sheet of thick paper

21. Alpha Particles Alpha Particles: 2 neutrons and 2 protons
They travel short distances, have large mass
Only a hazard when inhaled

22. Beta radiation  Electron Symbolically represented: 
Chemically written: e-
More Destructive than Alpha Radiation

23. Beta Particles
Beta Particles: Electrons or positrons having small mass and variable energy. Electrons form when a neutron transforms into a proton and an electron or:

24. Gamma radiation  High energy Electro-Magnetic Radiation
Symbolically represented: 
Most Destructive Radiation
Very difficult to stop

25. Gamma Rays Gamma Rays (or photons): Result when the nucleus releases
Energy, usually after an alpha, beta or positron transition
A gamma particle is a photon. It is produced as a step in a radioactive decay chain when a massive nucleus produced by fission relaxes from the excited state in which it first formed towards its lowest energy or ground-state configuration.

26. Neutron Radiation High energy radiation Symbolically written as n
Chemically written n0
Is a result of fission and/or fusion
Often produced in particle accelerators
New Evidence suggests that Neutrinos (neutron radiation) can travel faster than light

27. Nuclear Half-Life Equation
Ni * (1/2)nt1/2 = Nf
Ni – Initial amount of radioactive material
nt1/2 -# of half-lives
Nf – Final amount of radioactive material
To get nt1/2, you must divide time given in problem by the half-life.

28. Nuclear halflife examples
Polonium210
Half Life: 138 days
Alpha decay 
Strontium90
Half Life: 28.5 years
Beta decay 
Cobalt60
Half Life: 5.27 years
Gamma decay 

29. Alpha Decay  Example Polonium210 Half Life: 138 days Alpha decay 
If you have 48kg of Polonium 210, How much will be left after 138 days?
Ans: 24 kg
How much will be left after 276 days? (2 half lives)
Ans: 12 kg
How much will be left after 414 days? (3 half lives)
Ans: 6 kg

30. Beta Decay  Example Strontium90 Half Life: 28.5 years Beta decay 
If you have 30kg of Strontium 90, How much will be left after 28.5 years?
Ans: 15 kg
How much will be left after 57 years? (2 half lives)
Ans: 7.5 kg
How much will be left after 85.5 years? (3 half lives)
Ans: 3.75 kg

31. Gamma Decay  Example Cobalt60 Half Life: 5.27 years Gamma decay 
If you have 1 kg of Cobolt 60, How much will be left after 5.27 years?
Ans: 0.5 kg
How much will be left after years? (2 half lives)
Ans: 0.25 kg
How much will be left after years? (3 half lives)
Ans: kg