All Flashcards
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.
Define nuclear fission.
Splitting an atom into smaller pieces, releasing energy.
Define nuclear fusion.
Combining smaller atoms into larger ones, releasing energy.
Define control rods.
Rods that absorb neutrons in a reactor to control the chain reaction.
What is Uranium-235?
A radioactive isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
Define radioactive waste.
Waste products from nuclear reactors that emit harmful radiation.
What is a chain reaction?
A self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions caused by neutrons released in each fission.
Define thermal pollution.
The release of excess heat into bodies of water, often from power plants.
What is a nuclear reactor?
A device in which controlled nuclear chain reactions produce heat.
Define meltdown.
A severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating.
What is a turbine?
A rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow.
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.