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The Promises and Perils of Nuclear Power

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The Promises and Perils of Nuclear Power
SCI215 M4-Assignment 1: Discussion—The Promises and Perils of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power refers to the generation of electrical energy by controlled nuclear reactions. These reactions produce heat, which in turn creates steam that runs the generators to produce electricity. Approx. 1/8 of the electricity worldwide generated comes from nuclear energy. In this task, you will analyze the use of nuclear energy as a resource energy.

* Discuss the scientific and technical concepts related to the use of nuclear power as an energy resource. Address the following in your response:

* How is energy released in a nuclear reaction?

Energy is released in a nuclear reaction when there is a change of an unstable to a stable arrangement. This happens when the arrangement of the atoms and electrons in the carbon-based fuel and oxygen is less stable than the organization of atoms and electrons in the carbon dioxide. Nuclear reaction is controlled by regulating the number of neutrons that are created. Control rods absorb neutrons are inserted between the uranium fuel rods. They are increased or reduced in order to keep a constant release of energy. Strong nuclear forces are involved together with the weak interaction. Nuclear energy starts off from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. At the power plant, the fission process is used to produce heat for creating steam, which is used by a turbine to create electricity (Westinghouse Electric Company LLC . 2013). There are two kinds of reactions used to release nuclear energy. Fusion takes place when two light nuclei fuse together to make a heftier nucleus. This is the process that powers the stars. Fission takes place when an unstable nucleus of a heavy element, such as uranium, splits in two. Fission is used in nuclear power stations (Kindersley,2007).

* How are nuclear reactions controlled?

The fission of radioactive uranium produces nuclear energy. The procedure is controlled by

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