DO NOW 1. What is the difference between a renewable and a nonrenewable resource? 2. What is the formula for power? 3. Name the six forms of energy discussed in the previous lesson.

NUCLEAR AND HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY ENERGY LESSON 2

NUCLEAR FUSION Atoms are forced to collide and then fuse, which releases large amounts of energy Atoms are forced to collide and then fuse, which releases large amounts of energy In order to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity, a coal-fed plant would have to release 30,000 tons of CO2 gases, 600 tons of SO2 gases, and 80 tons of NO2 gas In order to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity, a coal-fed plant would have to release 30,000 tons of CO2 gases, 600 tons of SO2 gases, and 80 tons of NO2 gas A nuclear fission plant can produce the same 10,000 megawatts of electricity and only release 4 pounds of harmless helium as a waste product A nuclear fission plant can produce the same 10,000 megawatts of electricity and only release 4 pounds of harmless helium as a waste product

NUCLEAR FISSION Main process for creating nuclear energy Main process for creating nuclear energy Exothermic reaction-gives off heat Exothermic reaction-gives off heat If not controlled, could result in a nuclear explosion If not controlled, could result in a nuclear explosion Nuclear waste is highly radioactive and hard to get rid of Nuclear waste is highly radioactive and hard to get rid of Nuclear power has a higher potential energy than all other sources Nuclear power has a higher potential energy than all other sources

TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS Light-Water Reactors are the most easy to construct and operate, as well as the least expensive to build; generally the safest Light-Water Reactors are the most easy to construct and operate, as well as the least expensive to build; generally the safest Heavy-Water Reactors use a form of water (D2O) that is heavier, atomically, than H2O Heavy-Water Reactors use a form of water (D2O) that is heavier, atomically, than H2O Graphite-Moderated Reactors were created by Russian scientists, and generally unstable, and resulted in the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986 Graphite-Moderated Reactors were created by Russian scientists, and generally unstable, and resulted in the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986

CASE STUDY: CHERNOBYL

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR POWER ProsCons No air pollutantsNuclear waste takes millions of years to degrade (half-life) and is difficult to store Releases one-sixth of the CO2 of fossil fuel plantsThe process of commissioning and decommissioning nuclear power plants is regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is costly and dangerous Water pollution is lowLow-net energy yield; energy is required for mining uranium, processing ore, building and operating the plant, dismantling the plant, and storing wastes Land disruption is low to moderateSafety and malfunction concerns

RADIATION AND HUMAN HEALTH Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Ukraine, 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Ukraine, Mile Island Nuclear Disaster-United States, Mile Island Nuclear Disaster-United States, 1979 Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Japan, 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Japan, 2011

HYDROELECTRIC POWER Dams are built to trap water which in turn is then released and channeled through turbines that generate electricity. Hydroelectric power supplies about 10% of the electricity in the U.S. and about 3% worldwide Dams are built to trap water which in turn is then released and channeled through turbines that generate electricity. Hydroelectric power supplies about 10% of the electricity in the U.S. and about 3% worldwide

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER ProsCons Dams control floodingDams create large flooded areas behind the dam; displaces people; slow water breeds pathogens Low operating and maintenance costsDams destroy wildlife habitats and prevent fish from migrating No polluting waste productsSedimentation doesn’t reach farmland Long life spansExpensive Moderate to high net-useful energyDestroys wild rivers; water loss because of increased evaporation Areas of water recreationLarge-scale projects are subject to earthquakes

SALMON, SILTING, AND OTHER IMPACTS Dams prevent salmon from completing their journeys upstream to reproduce Dams prevent salmon from completing their journeys upstream to reproduce Reservoirs in tropical areas have slow moving or still water, which is a breeding ground for infectious disease Reservoirs in tropical areas have slow moving or still water, which is a breeding ground for infectious disease Displacement of people due to flooding and destruction of croplands Displacement of people due to flooding and destruction of croplands Deprives downstream areas of nutrient-rich water Deprives downstream areas of nutrient-rich water Silt particles build up behind dams and must be removed/dredged Silt particles build up behind dams and must be removed/dredged