1. Chapter 34

2. Basics The technology was first developed in 1930’s and 40’s during WWII Used for the “Atomic Bomb” Post-war, the idea of using nuclear energy to power the country became popular in the 1950’s By 2002, 20% of our countries domestic energy came from Nuclear Power France produces 75% of their energy through the use of their 59 Nuclear Power Plants

3. Comes from Greek word “atamos,” (means unable to cut) 100 million atoms in a row is 1cm long! Atoms are the smallest unit of an element Ex: Gold is made of gold atoms Atoms

4. More about Atoms Atoms are made of 3 parts: Protons Neutrons Electrons Protons and Neutrons together are a nucleus Protons and Neutrons have the same mass Electrons orbit the Nucleus They have a much smaller mass of 1/1837 the mass of a proton An isotope is an atom with the correct number of protons, but a different number of neutrons in their nucleus

5. Fission Fission means to “split apart” A fission reaction is the neutrons splitting off of a nucleus In a nuclear reactor, Uranium isotope atoms are contained These atoms bounce around at high, intense speeds When a neutron breaks out of one atom, it bumps into the nucleus of another atom This releases one or two more neutrons from that atom which in turn bump into other atoms This is a “chain reaction” where one reaction causes another to occur, then another and another Each time a nucleus splits apart, energy is released

6. Nuclear Reactors A nuclear reactor produces heat Each reactor has a “core” where the reaction takes place Fuel is added to the reactor in the form of fuel rods Each rod contains Uranium pellets Control rods are used to control the rate of reaction These absorb neutrons Moving these into the core slows the reaction, moving them out of the core speeds up the reaction Reactors are contained in a thick walled building Reactors only last 25-50 years

7. More control of Fission Each reactor is contained within a liquid cooling system As heat is produced by the reaction, it heats up the liquid to produce steam The steam energy is used to spin turbines and generate electricity If the reactor over heats, a melt down occurs If the reactor fuel escapes the building SEVERE environmental consequences occur

8. Breeder Reactors These reactors are used to produce more fuel than they use These produce Plutonium and Thorium Plutonium is used in nuclear weapons One of the most toxic substances known to man

9. Problems with Fission The spent fuel rods are impossible to dispose of These are radioactive for thousands of years and have huge impacts of the health of the environment The half-life of Uranium is 4.5 billion years The half-life of Plutonium is 25,000 years Currently, spent fuel is stored in waste barrels and contained deep within the Earth’s crust, however: Earthquakes can affect this Barrels break down and leak over time exposing large areas of Earth to harmful radiation Transportation accidents can occur While it used to be inexpensive, it is now about twice as expensive as coal or oil fuel Huge public opposition to the use and construction of Nuclear Power Plants Ex: Indian Point Currently: We have no way of safely disposing of the wastes We have no way of safely decontaminating the reactors after they are shut down