All Flashcards
What are the key steps in nuclear fission for electricity generation?
Neutron strikes U-235, atom splits, energy released, water boils, steam turns turbines, electricity generated.
Describe the process of controlling a nuclear chain reaction.
Control rods absorb excess neutrons, slowing or stopping the fission reaction.
Why is nuclear energy considered non-renewable?
Uranium is a finite resource.
Explain the role of neutrons in nuclear fission.
Neutrons initiate and sustain the chain reaction by splitting U-235 atoms.
What is the primary benefit of nuclear energy?
Low operating costs, high energy output, and no air pollution.
What is a major environmental concern with nuclear energy?
The long-term storage and disposal of radioactive waste.
Why is nuclear fusion not widely used?
Requires extremely high temperatures and pressures that are hard to achieve.
How do control rods prevent a runaway reaction?
They absorb excess neutrons, slowing or stopping the chain reaction.
What is the energy transformation in a nuclear power plant?
Nuclear energy to thermal energy (heat) to mechanical energy (turbine) to electrical energy.
Explain the concept of half-life in relation to radioactive waste.
Half-life is the time it takes for half of the radioactive material to decay; some waste remains dangerous for thousands of years.
Describe the relationship between nuclear fission and a chain reaction.
Nuclear fission releases neutrons that trigger further fission events, creating a self-sustaining chain reaction if uncontrolled.
Explain why thermal pollution is a concern with nuclear power plants.
Heated water released back into the environment can harm aquatic ecosystems by decreasing oxygen levels.
What is nuclear fission?
Splitting an atom into smaller pieces, releasing energy.
What is nuclear fusion?
Combining smaller atoms into larger ones, releasing energy.
Define control rods.
Materials that absorb neutrons to control nuclear chain reactions.
What is radioactive waste?
Waste containing radioactive materials, dangerous for thousands of years.
What is Uranium-235?
A radioactive isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
Define thermal pollution.
The degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature.