During the twentieth century scientists have discovered how to unleash the most powerful
energy of all; Nuclear energy. The study of nuclear energy began for the same reasons
that most scientific studies are begun; to understand more about the universe and the
laws by which the universe works. The more knowledge we have about the universe, the
more we can control the world in which we live.
Nuclear energy is contained in the center, or nucleus of an atom. This energy is also
known as atomic energy because its obtained from atoms, unfortunately this is not a good
choice of words (because many other energies are obtained from atoms). An atomic bomb
explosion shows just how powerful muclear energy really is. Such as the underwater
explosion of an atomic bomb at Bikini during 1946. This powerful type of energy comes
from many things such as atoms and subatomic particles; an atom is a tiny bit of matter
that has very little weight. They are much too light to be weighed directly, but
scientists have developed methods of determining these tiny weightd by using special
labratory instruments. Hydrogen is the lightest of all atoms and carbon atoms weigh
twelve times more than the hydrogen atom. Atoms that make up one alement are not like
atoms that make up another element.
These (atoms) are not simple particles, their structure is very complexe. They are, in
fact, made up of smaller bits of matter called subatomic particles. An atom has two
parts. Those two parts are; 1)at the center is a nucleus, a densely packed core composed
of two kinds of paticles: protons and neutrons and 2)electrons. The charge in a nucleus
of an atom is carried by a particle called a proton, the number of protons in an atom's
nucleus is calle the atomic number of the atom. Atomic numbers are always whole numbers
such as +92. Each atomic number is always a whole number, and each chemical element has
its own atomic number. Protons have a positive electrical charge, yet electrons have a
negative charge and since opposite charges attract, it keeps them in their orbits around
the nucleus. Neutrons are neutral and weigh a bit more than protons. The breaking
apart or joining together of atomic nuclei is called a nuclear reaction. A tramendous
amount of energy may be released by a nuclear reaction. Nuclear energy is housed in a
nuclear reactor. There are many types of nuclear reactors such as a pressurized water
reactor.
There is no specific place where nuclear nergy may be found, neither is there a special
geographical place a nuclear power plant must be located. There are many hundreds of
nuclear power plants throughout the world, not to mention, many military and research
reactors. In the United states alone there are over a hundred plants; about 15% of the
nations electricity is produced at these plants. Frace is the leading user of nuclear
energy throughout the world, 65% of their electricity is prduced in Nuclear power plants.
Other leaders include; Belgium-60%, Sweden-50%, Switzerland-40%, Finland-38%, West
Germany-30%, Japan-22%, Spain and Britain-20%, and Soviet-Union-14%. There have been
many accidents concerning nuclear power plants, despite the usually good safety record.
Two of the most serious accidents have taken place in; 1)the United Staes, when a Unit 2
power plant on Three Mile Island, Southeast of Harrisburg, Pennysania and 2) U.S.S.R. the
worst accident concerning nuclear reactors occured on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl
reactor #4 lacated in a reactor complex near Kiev, Soviet Ukraine.
There are advantages and disadvantages
of nuclear power. Nuclear weapons are the most powerful and fearsome weapons ever
introduced to man. Not only because of the enormouse amount of physical damage that
results from their detonation but also because of the radiation it releases. Radiation
can have long-term effects on humans and our environement. these long-term effects
consists of things like:
1) radiation disrupts the process that takes place in the nuclei of living organismes
cells, decreasing the resistance of disease and increasing risks of developing cancer.
2)Abnormalities such as mongolism can be passed to offspring. The damage done to our
environment is irrepirable. Not to mention it is unknown if the disposal of nuclear
waste will have any effects on our environement had we will not know until many years to
come. The advantage of nuclear energy is it's a great source of power used to produce
electricity for things such as light.
Many people throughout the world use nuclear energy in thier everyday lives. It is used
to produce electricity for running our homes, schools and businesses. Also lighting,
heating and cooling.
Nuclear energy is better than any other type of energy because it is the most powerful
type of energy that can be created.
It is better than the following energy for example: 1) Hydro energy, because when
created, rivers have to be blocked by dams. Thereby, most likely, flooding of wastelands
where certain animal types may have their homes would be destroyed and maybe even cause
death to those animals. In saome cases possible extinction.2) Heat energy created by the
burning of wood because it is very destructive to our forest. Trees are a necessity of
oxygen, shelter and food to animals and even humans. Finally 3)solar energy because you
don't have to depend on the sum to shine.
In conclusion due to the potential for accidents or sabotage at nuclear power plants,
they are not as common as power plants for other types of power/energy. The problems
associated with radioactive waste produced, these plants have long been a subject of
controversy. The developement of nuclear energy, for both peaceful and wartime uses is
much more than a scientific issue. It is also a prominent public issue among people in
all nations. Because of disasters at nuclear power plants such as the one at Chernobyl,
people everywhere refuse to except nuclear power palnts anywhere near their homes. They
also refuse to have nuclear waste disposal sites near their homes no matter how safe the
gouvernment and companies may say it is.
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