Standards

Nuclear Energy Advantages and Disadvantages

Changing Views Nuclear Energy –50s and 60s Energy of the future Clean and plentiful Cheap –70s and 80s 120 planned plants canceled 40 partially constructed –Today 17% of energy

Nuclear Energy Energy w/in nucleus of an atom 1 million times stronger than chemical bonds Uranium (U) used a fuel

Nuclear Fission Nuclei of uranium bombarded with neutrons Nuclei split Release energy Atomic bomb – uncontrolled fission rxn

How does it work? Reactor in thick pressure vessel Surrounded by cooling fluid Surrounded by thick concrete walls

How does it work? Metal fuel rods containing U bombarded with neutrons Control rods absorb some neutrons to slow rxn

How does it work? Rxn heats closed loop of water Heats separate water  boils Steam turns turbine in generator

Advantages Concentrated energy No greenhouse gases Less radiation than coal-burning plants No reliance on fossil fuels

Why aren’t we using it? Expensive –Nuclear power - $3,000 per kilowatt –Wind power - $1,000 per kilowatt –Natural gas - $600 per kilowatt

Why aren’t we using it? Storing waste –Waste remains dangerous for 1,000s of years –Waste sites must be geologically stable –USA has researched a site for 2 decades –Hope – transmutation: recycle waste

Safety Chernobyl 1986 (Ukraine) –Engineers turned off safety devices (Derp!) –Explosion –Radiation in the air –Old design Three Mile Island 1979 (PA) –Human error, blocked valves, broken pumps –Smaller leak 300 safety improvements

The future Nuclear fusion??? –2 atoms combine, release bookoodles of energy –Powers stars –Wicked hard High temps 100 millionºC High concentrations Properly contained

Take a side! Create an ad –For or Against nuclear power (Get off the fence) –Persuasive –Use facts NOT emotion Ads will be displayed on back wall

Create a Persuasive Ad! Step 1: Make Your Benefits Stand Out Step 2: Tell A Story In Your Ad Body Step 3: A Strong Call To Action