1. By Amy Crouch and Zofia Soch
Nuclear Power
By Amy Crouch and Zofia Soch

2. What is nuclear power?
Nuclear power is energy harnessed from the nuclei of heavy atoms. Current reactors access nuclear energy through fission, which is the splitting of the atoms. Fusion, when atoms fuse together, produces much more power, but it requires stellar temperatures.
Nuclear reactors split atoms of uranium to produce nuclear power.

3. Renewable or nonrenewable?
Technically, it is nonrenewable. There is a finite amount of uranium in the ground. However, technologies are being invented to extract uranium in seawater.

4. When was it discovered?
Radiation was discovered by Marie Curie. Her groundbreaking work led others to research nuclear energy. Uranium itself, the fuel of nuclear reactors, was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist. He named it after the planet Uranus, which had been discovered that year.
Marie Curie and Martin Klaproth, some important people related to nuclear power

5. How has it changed?
The main change in nuclear power since it was discovered is its efficiency, as our graph illustrates.

6. Where is its fuel found?
The fuel of nuclear reactors is uranium. Uranium is found in rocks and seawater. It is fairly common.
Uranium, a heavy metal used for nuclear power. Uranium is fairly soft and very dense.

7. How is nuclear energy used today?
The energy is used to heat water, which produces steam which turns a turbine.

8. Who uses nuclear power?
Nuclear power is used to make electricity. Since electricity is very commonly used, many industries and countries use it.
This graph shows the nuclear electricity production in many countries.

9. How do we get uranium from its stored state?
Although uranium does not need to be fully enriched for reacting, it does need a slightly higher concentration of U-235. This shows the enrichment process of uranium.
Uranium must be enriched before it is used. This is because natural uranium contains very little of U-235, the isotope which is useful in nuclear reactors.

10. What are some advantages and disadvantages to nuclear power?
It has a relatively low cost.
Although it is easier to access uranium from the ground, it can also be extracted from seawater. This makes for a lot of uranium.
Nuclear reactors are becoming very efficient, producing more electricity for less fuel.
Nuclear reactors release much less radiation and fossil fuels than coal plants.
Disadvantages:
Nuclear reactors produce nuclear waste. This is potentially dangerous.
It is possible for nuclear reactors to melt down, releasing small amounts of radiation.
Reactor fuel can be reprocessed. It is technically possible to use this to make nuclear weapons.
Uranium mining has potential damage to the environment.

11. Here is an informational video.

12. Nuclear Power in the Future
Nuclear energy may be vital in the future. Nonrenewable energy produces greenhouse gases, which may come with heavy consequences. It will most likely be part of the future.
In addition, new technologies are being developed. Some are designed to be more efficient, some are designed to be safer, and some are even using fuels other than uranium.
Some scientists are also attempting to design fusion reactors. These will release tremendous energy and are expected to be safer. However, nuclear fusion presents technological difficulties. It is unlikely that we will be able to use fusion very soon.
The ITER, an experimental fusion reactor

13. Where and how is nuclear energy stored?
Nuclear energy is stored as electricity. It is then sent to places which will use it.

14. Are we using more nuclear power now than in the past?
Our nuclear power consumption has indeed gone up, as this graph illustrates.

15. How is uranium recovered?
Uranium is mined from the ground or extracted from seawater. Here is the fuel cycle of uranium.

16. Bibliography
Richard Muller, Physics for Future Presidents
Ewan McLeish, The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power