Nuclear and Geothermal Energy

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy summary Inside nuclear energy plants atoms perform in fusion and fission, the energy released from doing those things is then used by us for multiple things. Fission: The splitting of large atoms into 2 smaller atoms that are called fission products. Fusion: The combining of 2 small atoms or fission products into a bigger, heavier atom that can produce more energy.

Pros and cons Pros Smaller amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere and air. Very low costs to operate machinery after it has been constructed. Nuclear energy in a large generator has the capacity to meet industrial and city needs. The nuclear waste produced by generators can be safely and easily removed using waste recycling and processing. Cons There are high construction costs to building plants and generators. There are very high accident risks and some that are still unknown. The plants and generators take a long time to construct. Nuclear radiation is dangerous and can be used as a weapon by terrorists and enemies. Uranium which is 1 of the ingredients used, is very hard to process. Nuclear waste can last from 200,000 - 500,000 years before starting to decompose. If there was damage to a generator the radiation can leak out into the environment, killing and permanently damaging plants and wildlife.

What is it used for? Nuclear energy has lots of uses, but the main uses are electricity, nuclear medication, heat for desalination and space missions.

Nuclear Medication Radiation can be used by doctors for treating a patient or diagnosing them. Radiation can be used to show doctors the condition of a patient's inner organs. Radiotherapy can be used to treat medical conditions such as cancer, the radiation attacks the mutated cells weakening and eventually destroying them. 1 of the issues with using radiation to treat is the fact that they can kill healthy cells that are needed to function regularly not only the bad cells. Tens of millions and patients are treated with nuclear medication every year.

heat for desalination Heat from nuclear reactors can be used directly instead of being processed to make electricity. The heat can be used for district heating, industrial buildings, and desalination plants. Desalination plants are used to create clean drinkable water from saltwater in our oceans.

Space Missions The heat generated from radioscope thermoelectric generators can be used for space missions. The heat generated by the decay of a radioactive source can be used to create plutonium - 238 which can be refined to create electricity for rockets and rovers. typically either small fission systems or radioactive decay for electricity or heat. Russia has sent about 40 reactors into space to be used on satellites orbiting earth. Nuclear power can be used for propulsion systems called nuclear electric propulsion. nuclear power systems function independently of sunlight, which is necessary for deep space exploration. Nuclear reactors are especially beneficial in space because of their lower weight-to-capacity ratio than solar cells.

Is it viable? Nuclear radiation is more viable than other alternative energy sources like wind or fossil fuels. Countries around the world are thinking about using more nuclear energy than fossil fuels because of its benefits like less gases released into the air. Unfortunately nuclear energy costs more to use than fossil fuels

My Opinion There are risks to the environment and to human health when using nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can cause diseases such as cancer, which kill us. If nuclear radiation was to be released on the environment, it can cause a lot of damage to the wildlife. I don’t think we should use nuclear energy because there are much healthier natural choices.

True or false 1. Fission is the separation of large atoms and fusion is the combining of 2 small atoms. 2. Using nuclear power can cut down on carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere. 3. There are a lot more pros than cons to using nuclear energy. 4. Nuclear energy is used for ALL the following: electricity, heat for desalination, filtering toxins from the sewage system and running satellites. 5. Nuclear energy can both cause and destroy cancer. 6. Electricity can be transformed using decomposed radioactive materials. 7. Only around 200,000 patients are treated with nuclear medication per year. 8. There are high and unknown accident risks when working with radiation but we have good enough safety systems so that nothing bad ever happens. 9. Nuclear energy can only heat districts, they use stronger energy sources for industrial needs. 10. Nuclear energy has low operating costs but high construction costs.

Answers true false

Extras https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7LO8lL4Ai4

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Summary Geothermal energy is generated and stored inside the earths core. Water is pumped down into the earths core, the molten rock and magma inside the earth produces lots of heat, The heat rises to the earths crust where it is collected by generators and used to transform electricity and for heating.The geothermal energy from the earths crust originates from 2 things. 80% originates from the decay of radioactive materials underground, the last 20% originates from the planets formation. For the generators, they run on electricity.

Pros and cons Pros This form of energy is almost completely emission free. This form of energy has zero carbon. There is no fuel required for this form of energy. There are no fluctuations. There is a virtually limitless supply. This form of energy is simple and reliable. Cost competitive The generators that are used to collect the heat can be built underground. Cons The placement of the generators is very specific and has to have a lot of requirements. Uses a lot of water for production. There are very high construction costs to building the generators. 24 hour care has to be taken to manage the heat and to not overuse it. Drilling into heated rock is very difficult.

What is it used for? Geothermal energy is mostly used for heating, cooking and electricity. The heat has to be refined to be used, and transformed for electricity use.

Is this energy viable? Geothermal energy is not the most viable yet not the least, there are alternative energy sources that are more and less viable. Solar, wind and fossil fuels are less viable than geothermal yet nuclear is more viable. Geothermals sources are almost completely unlimited because of all the heat produced.

Long term? Geothermal energy is considered to be the most eco-friendly alternative energy source in the world, it is also very cost effective. It is taking what the world had before and making it better. It has no carbon and is almost completely emission free.

My opinion Geothermal energy is using a naturally occurring thing on earth for human needs. It does not do much harm to the environment and has lots of benefits other than cost. I think we should use more geothermal energy, not the sources that ruin the environment.

True or false questions 1. All of the geothermal energy from the earths crust comes from radioactive decay underground. 2. Geothermal energy is 68% carbon and takes lots of fuel to work the machinery. 3. One of the many pros to using geothermal energy is that the generators can be placed anywhere above ground or under. 4. Geothermal energy comes in many forms which are all viable. 5. Geothermal generators are very eco-friendly but takes lots of money to construct 6. The heat created by molten rock and magma gets trapped underground and we have to drill down to the core to release it. 7. Geothermal energy is unlimited but people still manage how much we use. 8. Geothermal energy is generated and stored above or underground. 9. Geothermal energy is simple and reliable. 10. Geothermal energy uses lots of water for processing.

Answers False True

Extras https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRDf7QxjDk