Nuclear
Energy
Alexandra
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What is nuclear energy?
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How does is work?
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What are the pros and cons?
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Where is it being used?
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Recent news
Nuclear energy is using energy that is released from the
nucleus of an atom. It can be made in 2 different ways. One way is nuclear
fusion and another is fission. Fusion is joining 2 atoms together. The energy
that is released is what we use. Because this doesn’t have isn’t as radioactive
as fission, people want to use this instead. We don’t know how to do fusion
yet, but we are still looking to it. Nuclear fission is breaking an atom and
using the energy released for the same. { research how energy is used to create
electricity}
Fusion
Nuclear fusion is when 2 atoms are
“fused” or joined together. This releases energy.
Source: http://www.atomicarchive.com/Fusion/Fusion1.shtml
Fission
Nuclear fission is splitting the
atom and causing it to break into 2 smaller elements and release energy from
its nucleus.
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/nuclear.html
Pros:
It is not expensive, efficient, and reliable. It also
doesn’t release CO2 and there is no smoke. The world’s largest
nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, puts out about 8.21 million kilowatts.
Cons:
It is very poisonous; therefore any accidents might cause
casualties. Another bad thing is that nuclear waste is radioactive. Besides
being harmful to the environment, it can also kill animals if a leak or
explosion happened.
A recent earthquake in Japan caused a leak in a nuclear
plant, and 315 gallons of water and a small amount of radioactive waste leaked
into the ocean.
Because it is dangerous, most people would not want a
nuclear plant near their home. This is the reason that the U.S. isn’t as
advanced technologically as France or Japan is. The U.S.’s biggest nuclear
plant has an output of 3.88 million kilowatts. Meanwhile Japan’s biggest gives
8.21 million kilowatts.