Nuclear Power

Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the US.

Locations of Nuclear Power plants in the World

Do Nuclear Power plants Pollute?

No they don’t. This is Steam being released.

Nuclear Power Plant Operation

Uranium ore

Nuclear Reactor Fuel

Uranium ore is

refined then formed into pellets.

Nuclear Reactor FuelThese Pellets arethen put into Fuel rods which are Assembled Into packs of Fuel Rod Assemblies

Nuclear Reaction

This cannot Happen

Parts Of an Atom

•Protons•Neutrons•electrons

ProtonsProtons have a positivecharge and are locatedin the nucleus of the atom.

Neutrons

Neutrons are located in

the nucleus and have

no charge

• Electron are found onThe outside of the atom.

• An electrically balanced atom will have the samenumber of electrons and protons

Electrons

What is Nuclear Decay?

Nuclear decay is when the nucleus goes through a splitting process called nuclear Fission resulting in a different element(s) along with other products including ionizing radiation.

Ionizing Radiation Ionizing radiation is produced by unstable

atoms. Unstable atoms differ from stable atoms because they have an excess of energy or mass or both.

Unstable atoms are said to be radioactive. In order to reach stability, these atoms give off, or emit, the excess energy or mass. These emissions are called radiation.

4 types of ionizing Radiation

Alpha Helium Nucleus

Beta ElectronGamma EM Radiation Neutrons N0

These are other products thatcan be produced along with the new element

Ionizing Radiation

alpha particle

beta particle

Radioactive Atom

X-ray

gamma ray

Neutron

Alpha radiation Nucleus of a helium atom Symbolically represented: Chemically written: 4He2 Least Destructive Radiation Can be stopped by a sheet of thick

paper

Alpha Particles: 2 neutrons and 2 protonsThey travel short distances, have large massOnly a hazard when inhaled

Alpha Particles

Beta radiation Electron Symbolically represented: Chemically written: e-

More Destructive than Alpha Radiation

Beta ParticlesBeta Particles: Electrons or positrons having small mass and variable energy. Electrons form when a neutron transforms into a proton and an electron or:

Gamma radiation High energy Electro-Magnetic

Radiation Symbolically represented: Most Destructive Radiation Very difficult to stop

Gamma RaysGamma Rays (or photons): Result when the nucleus releases

Energy, usually after an alpha, beta or positron transition

Neutron Radiation High energy radiation Symbolically written as n Chemically written n0

Is a result of fission and/or fusion Often produced in particle

accelerators New Evidence suggests that

Neutrinos (neutron radiation) can travel faster than light

Nuclear Half-Life Equation Ni * (1/2)nt1/2 = Nf

Ni – Initial amount of radioactive material

nt1/2 -# of half-lives Nf – Final amount of radioactive

material

To get nt1/2, you must divide time given in problem by the half-life.

Nuclear halflife examples

Polonium210 Half Life: 138 days Alpha decay

Strontium90 Half Life: 28.5 years Beta decay

Cobalt60 Half Life: 5.27 years Gamma decay

Alpha Decay ExamplePolonium210

Half Life: 138 daysAlpha decay

If you have 48kg of Polonium 210, How much will be left after 138 days?

How much will be left after 276 days? (2 half lives)

How much will be left after 414 days? (3 half lives)

Ans: 24 kg

Ans: 12 kg

Ans: 6 kg

Beta Decay ExampleStrontium90

Half Life: 28.5 yearsBeta decay

If you have 30kg of Strontium 90, How much will be left after 28.5 years?

How much will be left after 57 years? (2 half lives)

How much will be left after 85.5 years? (3 half lives)

Ans: 15 kg

Ans: 7.5 kg

Ans: 3.75 kg

Gamma Decay ExampleCobalt60

Half Life: 5.27 yearsGamma decay

If you have 1 kg of Cobolt 60, How much will be left after 5.27 years?

How much will be left after 10.54 years? (2 half lives)

How much will be left after 15.81 years? (3 half lives)

Ans: 0.5 kg

Ans: 0.25 kg

Ans: 0.125 kg