Nuclear Energy
Nuclear reactors produce just under 20% of the
electricity in the USA. There are over 400 power reactors in the world (about
100 of these are in the USA). They produce base-load electricity 24/7 without
emitting pollutants (including CO2) into the atmosphere. They do, however, create radioactive nuclear waste which must
be stored carefully.
Fission and Fusion
There are two fundamental nuclear processes considered
for energy production: fission and fusion.
- Fission is the energetic splitting of large atoms
such as Uranium or Plutonium into two smaller atoms, called fission
products. To split an atom, you have to hit it with a neutron. Several
neutrons are also released which can go on to split other nearby atoms,
producing a nuclear chain reaction of sustained energy release. This
nuclear reaction was the first of the two to be discovered. All commercial nuclear power plants in operation use this reaction to generate
heat which they turn into electricity.
- Fusion is the combining of two small atoms such as
Hydrogen or Helium to produce heavier atoms and energy. These reactions
can release more energy than fission without producing as many radioactive
byproducts. Fusion reactions occur in the sun, generally using Hydrogen as
fuel and producing Helium as waste (fun fact: Helium was discovered in the
sun and named after the Greek Sun God, Helios). This reaction has not been
commercially developed yet and is a serious research interest worldwide,
due to its promise of nearly limitless, low-pollution, and
non-proliferative energy.
Click here to see animations of fission and fusion reactions.
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