Nuclear Power

Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the US.

Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the World

Do Nuclear Power plants Pollute?

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

Nuclear Power Plant Operation

Uranium ore

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

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

Nuclear Reaction

This cannot Happen

Parts Of an Atom Protons Neutrons electrons

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

Neutrons Neutrons are located in the nucleus and have no charge

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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 

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

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

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 10.54 years? (2 half lives) Ans: 0.25 kg How much will be left after 15.81 years? (3 half lives) Ans: 0.125 kg