Nuclear Energy

By: Lian Arzbecker

What It Is

• It is uses the nucleus of an atom to create energy

• Nuclear energy is powered by mainly Uranium atoms

• There are two ways to release the energy in an atom: fission and fusion

Fuel for Nuclear Energy

• Fission splits the original atom into smaller atoms to create energy

• Fusion is the opposite of fission; it combines multiple atoms to create one large atom, to form energy

How It Works

• The energy from the atoms is transferred into usable energy by water reactors

Types of Reactors

• Only two types of water reactors are used in the U.S.A.

• The Boiling-Water Reactor uses nuclear energy to turn water into steam, which powers the steam generator

• The Pressured-Water Reactor keeps water under pressure, which flows into turbine-generator, creating power

Nuclear Power is Good!

• It uses a very little amount of resources to create energy (One ton of Uranium has equal use to about 120,000 tons of coal)

• It does not create air pollution like coal and oil plants do

• It is not veryexpensive

Nuclear Power Is Good!• It is reliable because it does not use very much

fuel, so a natural disaster would not affect it very much

• It is safe because the risk of death, in comparison to coal mining, is lower

Where Nuclear Power Stands Now

• Nuclear energy currently supplies 15-20% (about 1/5), of the U.S.A.’s power

• In France Nuclear power is a main source for energy, at 80% (about 4/5)

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• "The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy." Free Website Hosting - Tripod free website templates to make your own free website. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. <http://members.tripod.com/funk_phenomenon/nuclear/procon.htm>.

• "World Nuclear Transport Institute | Nuclear transport facts | Facts and figures | Key facts." World Nuclear Transport Institute . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.wnti.co.uk/nuclear-transport-facts/facts-and-figures/key-facts>.

• "What is Nuclear Energy?." Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy.html>.