1. Nuclear Energy

2. Nuclear Energy
This is uranium. A small amount of fuel produces a vast amount of energy. It also produces lots of radioactive waste!
In a reactor, nuclear reactions release energy from the nuclei of uranium atoms. This heats water to make steam for driving generators

3. Nuclear Fission

4. The Splitting up of Atoms Is Called Nuclear Fission
Nuclear power stations and nuclear submarines are both powered by nuclear reactors
In a nuclear reactor,a controlled chain reaction takes place in which uranium atoms split up and release energy in the form of heat. This turns water to steam to drive a turbine & generate electricity

5. The Chain Reaction
neutron
neutron
1 neutron
Uranium atom
neutron
Each time a Uranium atom splits up it spits out 2 or 3 neutrons, one of which hits another uranium nucleus, causing it to split. This keeps the chain reaction going

6. The Chain Reaction
Uranium atom
When the Uranium atom splits into two it will form two lighter elements that are also radioactive. This becomes radioactive waste and is a big problem for nuclear power stations as it can remain dangerous for hundreds of years

7. Nuclear Processes Release More Energy Than Chemical Processes
When a nucleus splits it gives out a lot more energy than a chemical bond. This is why nuclear bombs release a lot more energy than other bombs

8. Did you know?
The average human body contains 7 x 1018 joules of potential energy – enough to explode with the force of thirty large hydrogen bombs!
Everything has this kind of energy in it – we are just not very good at getting it out. (The Uranium Bomb is the most energetic thing we have produced – yet it released only 1% of the total energy within it)

9. Nuclear Fission
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10. Power Stations

11. What is a power station?
Power Stations are places where electrical energy is made. Electrical Energy is a convenient form of energy to use in our homes.

12. Fossil Fuel Power Stations can generate a lot of pollution
In the form of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke

13. The sulphur dioxide can lead to the production of acid rain
And whole forests
It can damage leaves
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14. The National Grid

15. What is the National Grid?
When electricity is generated in the power station it is transported to us by the National Grid
It is a network of pylons and cables that covers the whole country

16. Step-down Transformer
The National Grid
Power Station
25,000V
Step-down Transformer
Homes
Step-up Transformer
400,000V
230V
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