Nuclear Energy

What is nuclear energy

Energy emitted during detoration of heavy radioactive element or during combining of two lighter radioactive element is called nuclear energy.

Nuclear reaction takes place in two ways

a) By nuclear fission

b) by nuclear fusion

Nuclear Fission Nuclear fission is the

process of splitting a nucleus into two nuclei with smaller masses.

Fission means “to divide” Only large nuclei with

atomic numbers above 90 can undergo fission.

Binding energy

After Fe every element has tendency to show nuclear fission reaction.

But effective nuclear fission reaction is shown by the large nuclei with atomic numbers above 90 .

It is due to binding energy per nucleon B.E=m *931.5MeV/AWhere ,m=mass of radioactive element A=mass number

Binding energy curve

Types of fission reactionThere are two type of fission reaction

1).uncontroled chain reaction

2). controled chain reaction

Un-controled chain reaction

A chain reaction is an ongoing series of fission reactions. Billions of reactions occur each second in a chain reaction.

Uncontroled chain reaction are very fast

Example of un-controled reaction

1) During detoration of nuclear bomb.When nuclear bomb detorate then it undergoes uncontrolled fission reaction.

Controled chain reaction

Example of controlled chain reaction

In nuclear reactor for

generation of electricity In nuclear reactor generation of

electricity is done by controled nuclear fission reactions take place in nuclear reactors.

generally element barium and cadmium is use to controlled the fission reaction

That is why in nuclear reactor controlled rods are made up of either barium or cadmium .

Fission Products• The products of nuclear

fission reactions are radioactive, but the energy released from these reactions is less harmful to the environment than the use of fossil fuels.

• The products are intensely radioactive and must be treated or stored.

Why radioactive element decay in very large time

• The rateof radioactive decay of any radioactive is directly proportional to its initial amount.

• And when we remove proportional sign then It become equal to product of of decay constant and initial amount.

• After integration it yield equation which vary exponentially .

Nuclear Fusion• Nuclear fusion is the

combining of two nuclei with low masses to form one nucleus of larger mass.

• Nuclear fusion reactions are also called thermonuclear reactions.

Nuclear Fusion example • Fusion reactions exist in stars.• Our sun is a good example of

a thermonuclear (fusion) reaction.

• It is almost impossible to create fusion reactions on earth since they need temperatures above one million degrees Celsius in order to take place.

Why radition of radioactive element is harmful

• During decay of radioactive element it emit alpha particle, beta particle,positron particle and gamma radation.

• These are very harmful for envirnment and human being.

• These radation causes cancer,slowness in mind working and majour is skin cancer

Nuclear Fusion cont.• Nuclear fusion produces

less nuclear waste than nuclear fission and the materials are easier to obtain.

Why 1gram radioactive element emit more energy than 1gram non

radioactive element

• Its only due to mass defect which occur in radioactive element

But not in non-radioactive element.

Advantages of Nuclear energy

• Clean

• Plentiful Supply

• High energy content in uranium

– Small fuel pellet

– Can provide base load power

– Energy savings in transportation

• Operating cost is low after construction

Disadvantage of using Nuclear energy

• Clean• Plentiful Supply• High energy content in uranium– Small fuel pellet–Can provide base load power – Energy savings in transportation

• Operating cost is low after construction