Nuclear Power Plant Reaction Paper
Regina May P. Hinagdanan 10-SCB
Physics Reaction Paper
Is nuclear power plant really that dangerous? It is true that many people have varying opinions about having nuclear power plants and developing nuclear energy. I, myself, see it as a good alternative source of energy while my brother sees it as a weapon for mass destruction. Nowadays, people are easily swayed by the reports of the media. Indeed, most of them are true but some of them tend to be a bit exaggerated. The article pointed out 3 fallacies the media directly or indirectly caused. The first fallacy mentioned is “Nuclear energy is not safe”. First of all, the energy itself IS safe. I believe that all nuclear power plants are built and designed in such a way that the people are protected from harm or radiation. The building itself has precautionary measures like cooling systems which avoids overheating and explosion. The government would not have agreed to nuclear power plants if they pose a great threat to the people. The second fallacy pointed out is “Working at or living near a nuclear power plant can cause cancer”. I, too, am a believer of this until I read the article. It is clearly stated through studies and surveys that there was no increased incidence of cancer mortality working or living near nuclear power plants. Again, nuclear power plants are built in a way that the general public and workers are protected from any harm. The workers follow precautions like wearing body suits too. It is only through direct radiation exposure that people may be affected. The last fallacy, “Nuclear power plants can explode like a bomb”. Very different to what we usually see in movies, nuclear power plants do not explode like a nuclear bomb. With the exception of the Chernobyl Incident, it neither has the capabilities nor the requirements to blow up like a bomb. The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The
Physics Reaction Paper
Is nuclear power plant really that dangerous? It is true that many people have varying opinions about having nuclear power plants and developing nuclear energy. I, myself, see it as a good alternative source of energy while my brother sees it as a weapon for mass destruction. Nowadays, people are easily swayed by the reports of the media. Indeed, most of them are true but some of them tend to be a bit exaggerated. The article pointed out 3 fallacies the media directly or indirectly caused. The first fallacy mentioned is “Nuclear energy is not safe”. First of all, the energy itself IS safe. I believe that all nuclear power plants are built and designed in such a way that the people are protected from harm or radiation. The building itself has precautionary measures like cooling systems which avoids overheating and explosion. The government would not have agreed to nuclear power plants if they pose a great threat to the people. The second fallacy pointed out is “Working at or living near a nuclear power plant can cause cancer”. I, too, am a believer of this until I read the article. It is clearly stated through studies and surveys that there was no increased incidence of cancer mortality working or living near nuclear power plants. Again, nuclear power plants are built in a way that the general public and workers are protected from any harm. The workers follow precautions like wearing body suits too. It is only through direct radiation exposure that people may be affected. The last fallacy, “Nuclear power plants can explode like a bomb”. Very different to what we usually see in movies, nuclear power plants do not explode like a nuclear bomb. With the exception of the Chernobyl Incident, it neither has the capabilities nor the requirements to blow up like a bomb. The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The