By: Ava Steins, Sofia Kinsella, Mina Loy Checel, and Sophia Hernandez - 1 Nuclear Energy - By: Ava Steins, Sofia Kinsella, Mina Loy Checel, and Sophia Hernandez

What is Nuclear Energy? Nuclear Energy is the energy that comes from nuclear reactions. A nuclear reaction is the splitting of uranium atoms. When one uranium atom splits, it causes a chain reaction, making all the other atoms split as well. Sofia Kinsella

How does it work? Nuclear Energy is the energy that comes from uranium splitting atoms. The reactor turns the heat into steam. This steam turns a turbine which generates the Nuclear Energy. This reaction creates heat electricity. Sofia Kinsella

This Is How the Nuclear Energy is produced: Ava Steins

Discuss the question with your seat partner and be ready to answer!! Pair Share!! Where is the steam generated? Where does the nuclear reaction happen? Discuss the question with your seat partner and be ready to answer!!

How does Nuclear Energy reduce the amount of Greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere? Nuclear reactors don’t put out anything into our atmosphere other that steam. Because Nuclear energy comes from the turning of a turbine that is turned by steam, we aren’t letting anything into our atmosphere. Instead of greenhouse gases being left over, nuclear waste is left over. You will hear more about this later. Sofia Kinsella

-Positive Impacts- No greenhouse gases are produced Little uranium is used to generate electricity Uranium is one of earth’s most abundant metals Gives over 100,000 people well-paid jobs Nuclear reactors can work for 18-24 months Sophia Hernandez

-Negative Impacts- Nuclear Waste is harmful to humans Nuclear Meltdowns results in radiation exposure Uranium Mines can affect the environment Uranium is an expensive nonrenewable metal Sophia Hernandez The last bullet point is by Mina. you can take it out if you want to.

How Can We Minimize Negative Impacts? Too Expensive Nuclear energy is expensive, so a way we could solve this problem is to make smaller reactors. This will make the construction process more simple and save money. Mina Loy

How Can We Minimize Negative Impacts? Explosions Nuclear plants explode and cause meltdowns. The solution to this is to make the reactors core cool down. How would we make core cooler? Ava’s solution- Someone/something always watches temperature. If it is getting too high, then the person turns the core off. Mina Loy

What does the future hold? In the future, uranium may be somewhat replaced by thorium which is safer and more abundant. Although we can’t fully replace uranium, using thorium would be one step closer to making Nuclear Energy a safer alternative to burning fossil fuels. If we do end up solving nuclear meltdowns, scientists do believe that nuclear energy will replace fossil fuels. Ava Steins

Discuss the question with your seat partner and be ready to answer!! Pair Share!! What is one thing you learned from the video? Discuss the question with your seat partner and be ready to answer!!

Works Cited https://www.nei.org/fundamentals/what-is-nuclear-energy https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/small-modular-nuclear-reactors https://nuclear.gepower.com/company-info/nuclear-power-basics https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-nuclear-energy-definition-examples.html https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=nuclear_home https://www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/how-energy-works/nuclear-power https://www.studentenergy.org/topics/nuclear http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/introduction/energy-for-the-world-why-uranium.asp https://positivenegativeimpact.com/nuclear-energy https://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Negative-Effects-Of-Nuclear-Energy-19758.html https://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-meltdown3.htm http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation.aspx https://www.ecnmag.com/article/2016/03/what-future-nuclear-power https://www.conservationinstitute.org/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-energy/ https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/future-nuclear-power1.htm