NUCLEAR ENERGY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

There are 4 tips of energy:

-Solar

-Hydroelectric

-Termal

-Nuclear

Nuclear energy is a clean, safe way to make electricity. It does not burn any fuel like coal so there are no pollutants released into the air.


Nuclear energy is energy that is stored in the nucleus or center of an atom. The nucleus of an atom is made of tiny particles of protons (+ positive charge) and neutrons (no charge). The electrons(- negative charge) move around the nucleus. The nuclear energy is what holds the nucleus together.

In order to use this energy, it has to be released from the atom. There are two ways to free the energy inside the atom.

1. Fusion

Fusion is a way of combining the atoms to make a new atom.

For example, the energy from the sun is produced by fusion. Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms are combined to make helium. Helium doesn't need that much energy to hold it together, so the extra energy produced is released as heat and light.

2. Fission

Fission is a way of splitting an atom into two smaller atoms. The two smaller atoms don't need as much energy to hold them together as the larger atom, so the extra energy is released as heat and radiation.

-Nuclear power plants use fission to make electricity. By splitting uranium atoms into two smaller atoms, the extra energy is released as heat. 

-Uranium is a mineral rock, a very dense metal, that is found in the ground and is non-renewable, that means we can't make more. It is a cheap and plentiful fuel source. 

-Power plants use the heat given off during fission as fuel to make electricity.

Fission creates heat which is used to boil water into steam inside a reactor. 

-The steam then turns huge turbines that drive generators that make electricity. 
-The steam is then changed back into water and cooled down in a cooling tower. 
-The water can then be used over and over again.