Nuclear EnergySection 17.2

Objectives:

1.3.0 Evaluate other sources of energy for their effectiveness as alternatives to fossil fuels.

2.3.1 Comparing nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions in the production of energy

3.3.2 Comparing energy production and waste output in generating nuclear energy

Assignment• Nuclear Power/Energy K-W-L:

1. Make 3 columns: Know, Wonder, and Learned.

2. List everything you know and wonder about for nuclear power or energy. (Fill in the 1st 2 columns ONLY.

Nuclear Power Video• http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidassetid=BDE8EF60-2D21-4980-8199-BF50338107A4

• Video worksheet

Fission: Splitting Atoms

• Nuclear energy: the energy in the nucleus of an atom

• Nuclear fission: splitting the nucleus of an atom– Caused when atoms are bombarded with

neutrons– Releases the energy holding the nucleus

together, as well as more neutrons

Chain Reactions• Dominoes video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgtekdw1eyo) – How could you stop this chain reaction from

happening?

Fission

How Nuclear Energy Works

• Power plants split atoms of uranium.

• Fuel rods contain uranium.

• Control rods contain cadmium or boron, which absorb the neutrons.

• When control rods are lowered between the fuel rods, they slow or stop the chain reactions.

How Nuclear Energy Works, continued…..

The Advantages of Nuclear Energy

• Very concentrated energy source

• Does not produce air-polluting gases

• Properly operated plants produce LESS radioactivity than coal-fired plants do.

Why Aren’t We Using More Nuclear Energy?

• What are some reasons we don’t use more nuclear energy?

• Costs more to build and maintain than other options

• Safe storage of waste– Transportation issues– Must be a geologically stable area for

thousands of years

• Safety concerns

The Future of Nuclear Power• Nuclear fusion: lightweight atomic nuclei

combine to form a heavier nucleus and release lots of energy

• Nuclear fusion is what “powers” the sun and stars

• How is fusion better environmentally?

• What’s the holdup? The temperature required is about 100,000,000°C!!!

Assignment

• Complete 3rd column of K-W-L Chart started at the beginning of this section.

• Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast coal-fired power plants and nuclear power plants. (Include information from the Figure 3 (p.436) and Figure 15 (p.445), and from your notes.)