chapter 16 – nuclear energy
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Chapter 16 – Nuclear Energy. Pages 250 – 263 Ms. Marcino Environmental Science. 3 parts: 1. Protons : 2. Neutrons : 3. Electrons : Nucleus:. Parts of an_________. Atoms usually have the same _________ _____________________ = ___________. Properties of atom determined ________ - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Chapter 16 – Nuclear Energy
Pages 250 – 263Ms. Marcino
Environmental Science
Parts of an_________
3 parts:◦1. Protons:
◦2. Neutrons:
◦3. Electrons:
Nucleus:
Atoms usually have the same ______________________________ = ___________.
Atoms and Isotopes
Properties of atom determined ________________________.Atomic number:
◦Ex: oxygen = ___; uranium =___ Atomic mass:
◦Ex: oxygen = ___ (_________; __________)Isotopes:
Radioactivity
Some __________ are __________.Unstable atoms may
Radioactive atoms:
Radiation:
Radioactive particles:◦1. alpha particles:
◦2. beta particles:Losing _____________changes an atoms
__________, causing it to become a ________________(radioactive decay).
Half-life:
Fission: Splitting Atoms
Only about ______ of the world’s ____________ comes from _________ power.
Nuclear power plants are powered by nuclear energy:
An Atom!!
Forces holding the nucleus together are STRONG!
Atoms of uranium (an element) __________________________________________.Nuclear Fission:
◦Nucleus __________________(neutral atomic particles).
◦This causes
◦Causes a ______________________________________________________.
Nuclear Fission
Example: atomic bomb is uncontrolled fission reaction.
How Nuclear Energy Works
Nuclear reactor surrounded by thick ________________________________.◦Pressure vessel will _____________________ in
event of accident.◦_____________________ also surround reactor.
Inside reactor:◦____________ containing _____________ hit
repeatedly with ____________.◦Chain reaction
◦Reactor core contains control rods:
Released heat used to generate ________ (heat steam in power plants, etc).
Breeder reactor:
◦_____________ used as fuel in breeder reactor.◦Produces heat energy too.
Nuclear Power Plant
Example: Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.◦Generates enough energy for 2 million
Californian households.◦Equivalent to burning 20 million barrels of oil
Advantages of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fuel = ________________________.Power plants do not produce greenhouse
gases = ___________________.Release less ______________ than coal-fired
power plants.
France generates ¾ of its electricity from nuclear power and produces less than 1/5 the amount of pollution per person than the U.S.
Uranium __________________________. As it decays it gives off radon:
◦Can
◦Dangerous
◦Estimated that
Why Aren’t We Using More Nuclear Energy?
Building and maintaining a safe reactor is very expensive
Storing Waste◦______________________________________for years.◦The used fuel, liquids and equipment from the
reactor core are hazardous wastes.◦Storage sites must be in an area that will
remain geologically stable for a long time.
Ex: Plutonium-239 waste will be dangerous for __________________.
Safety Concerns◦Potential for fission process to get out of
control.◦Ex: 1986-
Engineers
Test
Areas
Nuclear
50
Meltdown:
Exposure to radiation can cause: nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of some white blood cells, cancer.
25 rems =
100 rems =
>100 rems =
300 rems =
50% of people exposed to 450 rems die.800 or more rems always fatal (no
effective treatment).
In time, survivors can develop cancer.
Ex: X-ray =
Radioactive Waste
Waste is radioactive.◦Approx. __________ of waste produced in one
year from _______________.Types of waste:
◦High-level wastes:
Uranium fuel rods, control rods, water used to cool and control chain reactions, vessel that surrounds the fuel rods.
◦Medium-level and low-level wastes:
Mine wastes scattered around uranium mine, contaminated protective clothing from workers, also produced by hospitals and laboraties.
The Future of Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fusion:
◦This is the process that powers all the stars, including our sun.
◦Safer than fission because it creates less dangerous radioactive biproducts.
Difficult to achieve.◦
180,000,000 ⁰F◦Nuclei