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    Nuclear Power: Answer The Following Questions

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    Nuclear power involves controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy through splitting or fusing atoms or radiation release. It is controversial due to debates over the minimal nuclear waste produced and its environmental impact. Supporters argue it provides large amounts of electricity and has benefits like producing no carbon emissions. However, accidents have occurred, raising safety concerns and questioning nuclear power plant expansion. Nuclear waste disposal is also a major challenge due to radiation buildup risks.

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    Nuclear Power: Answer The Following Questions

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    Юля Павлущик
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    Nuclear power involves controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy through splitting or fusing atoms or radiation release. It is controversial due to debates over the minimal nuclear waste produced and its environmental impact. Supporters argue it provides large amounts of electricity and has benefits like producing no carbon emissions. However, accidents have occurred, raising safety concerns and questioning nuclear power plant expansion. Nuclear waste disposal is also a major challenge due to radiation buildup risks.

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    Nuclear power involves controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy through splitting or fusing atoms or radiation release. It is controversial due to debates over the minimal nuclear waste produced and its environmental impact. Supporters argue it provides large amounts of electricity and has benefits like producing no carbon emissions. However, accidents have occurred, raising safety concerns and questioning nuclear power plant expansion. Nuclear waste disposal is also a major challenge due to radiation buildup risks.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    34 views1 page

    Nuclear Power: Answer The Following Questions

    Uploaded by

    Юля Павлущик
    Nuclear power involves controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy through splitting or fusing atoms or radiation release. It is controversial due to debates over the minimal nuclear waste produced and its environmental impact. Supporters argue it provides large amounts of electricity and has benefits like producing no carbon emissions. However, accidents have occurred, raising safety concerns and questioning nuclear power plant expansion. Nuclear waste disposal is also a major challenge due to radiation buildup risks.

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    of 1

    NUCLEAR POWER

    Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions to release energy and heat. Energy is
    released from the nuclei of atoms when they split, fuse or release radiation. Nuclear energy is a very
    controversial source of fuel. Some people believe the nuclear waste created, though minimal, is harming our
    environment. Others support it because of the lavish amounts of electricity it produces. Currently there are
    one hundred four operating nuclear power units in our country. This supplies us with up to twenty percent of
    our nation’s energy. Nuclear energy has many good attributes. First of all, nuclear energy is nature-friendly.
    Fossil fuel burning releases as much as 5.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air each week, which
    contributes to the greenhouse effect. Electricity made by a nuclear plant does not. Also, the nuclear reactors
    are built with a series of layers of defence made to protect the environment from radiation spills. This is
    called “safety-in-depth”.

    Nuclear reactors are made with sensors that watch temperature, pressure, and water levels. The
    sensors are designed to shut down the system at any sign of danger. Also, the buildings are made of steel and
    have four feet thick concrete walls. Employees of a nuclear plant receive many hours of training in case of an
    emergency. Nuclear energy also contributes to our world’s growing need for energy. Fossil fuels take
    millions of years to develop and we may soon run out of it. Plus, pollution caused by burning fossil fuels is
    destroying the ozone and is adding on to the greenhouse effect. Coal fired plants let out coal smoke, which is
    filled with sulphur dioxide and causes acid rain that destroys forests and lakes.

    Nuclear energy produces small amounts of wastes that is processed and disposed of. Nuclear fuel is a
    type of waste, and twenty-eight tons of it is produced every year. Most nuclear waste is recycled and reused.
    Uranium and pollution are two examples; uranium is made into new fuel pellets and sent back to the reactors
    and plutonium is mixed in with the uranium. Nuclear energy has become one of the most economic, cheap,
    and reliable sources of energy for everyone.

    Nowadays, nuclear reactors are built with special programs to prevent explosions or the release of
    harmful radiation into the environment. Sometimes, though, accidents happen. This is a big reason why the
    construction of more nuclear plants has been questioned. An example would be the accident in Chernobyl,
    Ukraine on April 26, 1986 when a nuclear reactor exploded and high levels of radiation were spread out
    through the surrounding land. After that accident, scientists and engineers have taken more precautions and
    have built more safety measures to prevent anything like that from happening again.

    Another growing concern with using nuclear energy is the cost. Already, over $300 billion dollars
    have been invested into the energy. A big problem for disposal spent fuel and used uranium has arisen.
    Nuclear planners came up with the idea of burying it deep underground, and the mountain has been the only
    suitable place so far. A Nevada State Agency said that in 10 years, the radiation build-up would kill anybody
    in a three-foot radius of it in less than three minutes. Though nuclear energy does not emit carbon dioxide
    into the air, it does release one chemical that is very harmful to the ozone-CFC-114.

    Nevertheless, nuclear energy is a very economical and reliable source of energy, especially with the
    growing demand for it. Nuclear energy is a great alternative to burning fossil fuels and does not pollute.
    Building more nuclear reactors, though costly, will be an asset to everyone.

    Answer the following questions.

    1. Why is nuclear energy a very controversial source of fuel?


    2. Why do some people believe that nuclear waste is harming our environment?
    3. What good attributes does nuclear energy have? Prove it.
    4. What is the concept “safety-in-depth” used for?
    5. What does nuclear energy produce?
    6. What has influenced on people opinion concerning the usage of nuclear energy?
    7. Why is spent fuel disposal a big problem?

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