U6: Nuclear Power Guiding Questions: Why is it dangerous to life? How is energy produced? What is used? What is made?
What IS radiation? Not discussing the electromagnetic kind. Particles breaking off of one atom and flying outward.
Y O U R S E N T E N C E H E R E . T Y P I N G T H I S = F U N . A C T I V I T Y Y O U R S E N T E N C E H E R E . T Y P I N G T H I S = F U N .
Reflection
Radioactive/ Nuclear Decay Occurs when pieces of the nucleus of an atom liberate themselves and fly away. As nucleus breaks up, element changes. Most common is “alpha particle,” 2 𝑝 + and 2 𝑛 0 .
MAGNIFY
Half-Life The time required for an element to lose ½ of its original elemental atoms by nuclear decay. Atoms become “daughter” atoms, the result of nuclear decay.
Uranium-235 Uranium-238 Uranium-258 Uranium-255 Uranium-245 1. The uranium oxide pellets used in typical nuclear reactors are most composed of the nonfissionable isotope: Uranium-235 Uranium-238 Uranium-258 Uranium-255 Uranium-245
Fusion Fission Enrichment Meltdown Beta radiation 2. Inside a reactor, a neutron strikes a uranium atom nucleus, which splits, releasing a great deal of energy and sending fragments of the nucleus in different directions. This sequence is best described as Fusion Fission Enrichment Meltdown Beta radiation
3. In addition to cooling a nuclear reactor’s core, a fluid known as coolant also serves the purpose of: Transferring heat out of the core for electricity generation Keeping radioactive gases from escaping Keeping fuel from chemically reacting with cooling rods Adding neutrons to nonfissionable material to create new nuclear fuel Absorbing neutrons to control the rate of fusion.
4. Whether or not an atom’s nucleus is unstable depends mostly on its number of protons Electrons Neutrons Quarks Pi orbitals
5. The half-life of element X is 40 years 5. The half-life of element X is 40 years. Starting from a mass of 50 grams, how much element X will have undergone radioactive decay in 120 years? 50 grams 43.75 grams 25 grams 12.5 grams 6.25 grams