Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

By:By:

Melissa Orr &Melissa Orr &

Carey MyersCarey Myers

Overview of EnergyOverview of Energy

Energy helps us do things. It Energy helps us do things. It lets us bake cookies and stay lets us bake cookies and stay warm in the winter.warm in the winter.

Energy is the power to change Energy is the power to change things.things.

It’s the ability to do work.It’s the ability to do work.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Changes can occur in the structure of the Changes can occur in the structure of the nuclei of atoms. These changes are called nuclei of atoms. These changes are called nuclear reactions. Energy created in a nuclear reactions. Energy created in a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy, or nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy, or atomic energy.atomic energy.

Nuclear energy is produced naturally and in Nuclear energy is produced naturally and in man-made operations under human control. man-made operations under human control.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Naturally: Some nuclear energy is produced Naturally: Some nuclear energy is produced naturally. For example, the Sun and other naturally. For example, the Sun and other stars make heat and light by nuclear stars make heat and light by nuclear reactions. reactions.

Man-Made: Nuclear energy can be man-Man-Made: Nuclear energy can be man-made too. Machines called nuclear reactors, made too. Machines called nuclear reactors, parts of nuclear power plants, provide parts of nuclear power plants, provide electricity for many cities. electricity for many cities.

Explanation and sourceExplanation and source Nuclear energy is found in the Nuclear energy is found in the

nucleus of an atom. Nuclear nucleus of an atom. Nuclear energy can be used to make energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy electricity. But first the energy must be released. It can be must be released. It can be released from atoms in two ways: released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.

In nuclear fusion, energy is In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are released when atoms are combined or fused together combined or fused together to form a larger atom. This to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces is how the sun produces energy.energy.

In nuclear fission, atoms are In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. atoms, releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce nuclear fission to produce electricity.electricity.

Nuclear power accounts for about 19 Nuclear power accounts for about 19 percent of the total net electricity generated percent of the total net electricity generated in the United States, about as much as the in the United States, about as much as the electricity used in California, Texas and New electricity used in California, Texas and New York, the three states with the most people.  York, the three states with the most people.  In 2006, there were 66 nuclear power plants In 2006, there were 66 nuclear power plants (composed of 104 licensed nuclear reactors) (composed of 104 licensed nuclear reactors) throughout the United States.  throughout the United States. 

Compared to electricity generated Compared to electricity generated by burning fossil fuels, nuclear by burning fossil fuels, nuclear energy is clean. Nuclear power energy is clean. Nuclear power plants produce no air pollution or plants produce no air pollution or carbon dioxide but a small amount carbon dioxide but a small amount of emissions result from of emissions result from processing the uranium that is processing the uranium that is used in nuclear reactors used in nuclear reactors

Real life examplesReal life examples

Three Mile IslandThree Mile Island Navy Training shipsNavy Training ships Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons ChernobylChernobyl

More real life examples.More real life examples.

Fuel reprocessing.Fuel reprocessing. Nuclear fuel.Nuclear fuel. The sun.The sun. Nuclear reactors fusion and fission.Nuclear reactors fusion and fission.

Pictures of examplesPictures of examples

VideoVideo

http://www.hulu.com/watch/29838/the-simpsohttp://www.hulu.com/watch/29838/the-simpsons-nuclear-energy-filmns-nuclear-energy-film

ConversionsConversions An example for converting An example for converting

nuclear energy to mechanical nuclear energy to mechanical energy by incorporating energy by incorporating fissionable material in at least fissionable material in at least some of the vanes defining a some of the vanes defining a continuous tortuous duct in a continuous tortuous duct in a turbine, directing a turbine, directing a compressed fluid flow through compressed fluid flow through said duct, extending this fluid said duct, extending this fluid flow in at least part of the duct flow in at least part of the duct to effect transfer of released to effect transfer of released nuclear energy to the fluid nuclear energy to the fluid flow and directing the fluid flow and directing the fluid flow upon the driving vanes of flow upon the driving vanes of the turbine to effect rotation the turbine to effect rotation thereof thereby converting the thereof thereby converting the released nuclear energy to released nuclear energy to mechanical energy. mechanical energy.

Works CitedWorks Cited

library.thinkquest.org/3471/library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy.htmlnuclear_energy.html

www.ne.doe.govwww.ne.doe.gov physics.weber.edu/schroeder/physics.weber.edu/schroeder/eee/chapter7.pdfeee/chapter7.pdf