Shah Ahmad Michelle Phan Mario Lizano Bobby Coffman

What is nuclear energy? Nuclear energy is a nuclear reaction. A nuclear reaction is a possible change in the structure of the nuclei of atoms. This could be splitting the atomic nuclei or forcing the nuclei of atoms together. The energy that is produced in a nuclear reaction leads to nuclear energy or atomic energy.

Nuclear Fusion and Fission The similarities of fission and fusion are how they both require a nucleus of an atom. Also that they both produce energy, from their processes. The differences of fission and fusion are the processes. The fission process is the splitting of an atomic nucleus. Fusion is when you take two or more smaller units or nuclei and fuse them together to get a heavier newer nucleus.

How is Nuclear Energy Produced? Nuclear energy can be produced in two ways. Nuclear energy can be produced naturally. It produces naturally when a structure of the nuclei of atoms changes on its own. An example of how the natural nuclear energy is used is for instance of how the stars make light and the biggest star of all, the sun, makes heat.

How Nuclear Energy Works

How is Nuclear Energy Produced Cont’d The light and heat are created by a nuclear reaction, so the nuclear reaction has made nuclear energy that gives heat and light for both the sun and the stars. Another way of how nuclear energy is produced is man-made. Nuclear energy can be man-made by using a machine called a nuclear reactor which is a part of nuclear power plants. What a nuclear reactor does is it makes a controlled chain reaction which creates heat and boils the water, produces steam and than drives steam turbines.

Should we use nuclear energy? I think we should use nuclear energy because it is just a bit more expensive than coal (as to May 2011) so it’s not too expensive. A lot of nuclear energy can be produced from a small amount of fuel. Nuclear energy does not create smoke or carbon dioxide. It does not create too much waste, when used. Even though there are several reasons that we should use nuclear energy there are also reasons we should not.

Should we use nuclear energy? Cont’d For example, how nuclear energy does not produce much waste, but the waste is very dangerous. Most of the waste has to buried and sealed up for up to thousands of years to have the entire radioactivity die away. But it is very difficult, because it must be kept sealed and away from earth-quakes, flooding, terrorist, etc. Another reason why we should not use nuclear energy is because of how it is a non-renewable source. Since it is non-renewable, once we use it, it can not be reused or recycled to go through the process again.

Facts about Nuclear Energy Power plants do need less fuel than the ones that burn fossil fuels. But did you know 1 ton of uranium creates more energy than using several million tons of coal or oil. Nuclear energy is about 19% of the total generated energy in the United States. The workers working in the nuclear power plant (Fukushima) were warned they are facing a 100 year battle to make the fuel rods safe. The picture below shows the damage to a nuclear reactor at the Fukushima power plant.

Bibliography ref/students/reactors.html energy.com/energy_facts/nuclear_energy_facts.html /Japan-nuclear-crisis-Fukushima-plant- entombed-concrete-radiation-leak.html