2.  Uranium: a metal with heavy, unstable atoms; an element  Fission: to split the nucleus of an atom.  Fission Products: created through fission; highly radioactive  High-Level Waste: the spent fuel from nuclear power plants

3.  When heavier unstable atoms split the nucleus of the atom into a lighter nuclei  Uranium is the only natural element that can be split in a way that can be controlled and used.  If you fission a pound of uranium it would release as much energy as the burning of about 1,300 tons of coal.

4.  Nuclear Reactor: The heart of the power plant whose purpose is to fission the nuclear fuel, while both controlling and containing that fission.  Control Rods: Control the nuclear fuel, keep nuclei separated until the process begins.  Pressure Vessel: Contains core as fission takes place.  Boiling-Water Reactor: Another nuclear power plant; boils water which turns to steam without a conversion.

5.  Nuclear power plants are used to create electricity. The systems inside the plant create heat, which produces steam. This steam powers the electrical generating system. The electrical generating system captures steam and converts it into electricity by turning a generator.

6.  Nuclear reactors are the heart of powers plants.  The purpose is to fission the nuclear fuel while both controlling and containing that fission.  The fission creates heat  The turbines capture steam and convert it into electricity.  The object is to create heat, then steam, to drive to a turbine.

7.  Fissioning of uranium in a nuclear reactor depends upon having enough nuclear fuel to keep a chain reaction going.  The reactor must contain a large amount of fuel, enough to produce a lot of neutrons to sustain a chain reaction so that fission happens over and over again.  The result of these collisions between neutrons and other nuclei is heat.

8.  Nuclear reactors contain and control the fuel as it fissions  The fuel is controlled by devices called control rods.  The purpose of control rods is to control what the neutrons in the fuel can hit.

9.  The chain reaction is started by removing the control rods making it possible for the neutrons in the fuel’s nuclei to hit other nuclei.  The reaction is slowed down or stopped by reinserting the control rods; blocking the paths of neutrons inside the reactor.  The fuel and control rods from the core of the reactor.

10.  Nuclear material made in the Nuclear plants is mainly used for electricity.  Because such strong electricity is found in the atoms itself the electricity can provide energy for many areas around the plants.  A dangerous but very important use is Nuclear bombs  The amount of nuclear material would cause major destruction.  Also used in certain medicines.

11.  The people who live near or work by power plants must be protected against contamination by radiation because fission products are highly radioactive

12.  Be aware of nuclear waste too HIGH LEVEL Highly radioactive and it will stay for many thousands of years. Most of the waste is spent nuclear fuel from power plants. Must be kept away from people and the environment.

13.  Low-level waste products consists of protective clothing and other items that have been contaminated by radioactive materials.  It is stored by being placed in metal containers, buried in deep trenches, and covered in soil that is shaped into a mound and planted over with grass to prevent erosion.

14.  High-level waste products consists of spent nuclear fuels from power plants.  It is stored at the plants themselves in large pool of water to cool.  They are then kept in large concrete canisters until a permanent storage site is found.  There is a lot of debate about whether the federal government or the state governments should be in charge of where the high-level waste products should be stored.

15. Most events occur due to the malfunction of systems in the plant.  In 1986, the release of a large amount of reactor core substances in Ukraine caused health and environmental problems.  In 1993, contamination spread through France which was unexpected in the design work of the plant.  In 1999, workers at a plant in Japan were fatally overexposed to the energy.

16.  Very powerful in small large quantities.  Uses less burning of fossil fuels.  Can be easily detected by technology if error happens.  If used incorrectly then the nuclear reaction will destroy everything in its path.  Very harmful to humans, and can easily contaminate.  Needs to be handled very carefully when disposing.

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