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All Flashcards
What are the effects of a nuclear meltdown?
Release of radioactive materials, contamination of environment, potential health impacts.
What is the impact of thermal pollution from nuclear plants on aquatic ecosystems?
Decreased dissolved oxygen, harm to aquatic life, altered ecosystem dynamics.
What are the environmental consequences of improper radioactive waste disposal?
Groundwater contamination, soil contamination, long-term health risks.
How can a tsunami impact a nuclear power plant?
Loss of power, cooling system failure, explosions, radioactive leaks (e.g., Fukushima).
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.
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.