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NUCLEAR ENERGY

A nuclear power station in America.

Vocabulary

At the moment 80% of our energy requirements are met by using fossil fuels but they are not . One alternative is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can be used to produce electricity and also power nuclear and satellites. Nuclear energy is also used to make atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Nuclear energy is the energy that holds neutrons (neutral particles) and (positive particles) together in an atom's . It is similar to the energy of the sun and other stars. Nuclear energy can be made from atoms.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS
There are two types of nuclear reaction:
- nuclear fission: this involves a nucleus. Fission produces clean energy but also produces dangerous waste.
- nuclear fusion: this involves small nuclei together (the opposite of fission). This reaction is very powerful but has not been used in power stations yet. The fusion reaction is similar to the sun's energy.

A nuclear reaction involves a reaction where one event starts another and another and so on.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
At the moment nuclear energy supplies about 20% of the world's energy needs. Nuclear power is good because it produces few and therefore does not contribute to acid rain or the effect. Also nuclear energy does not use coal. However there are many disadvantages:
- transporting and storing radioactive material is very dangerous
- destroying old nuclear power stations is dangerous and expensive.
- building new nuclear power stations is much more expensive than traditional power stations.

About 20 years ago there was a serious accident at the nuclear power station in Russia. Many people and large areas of land were affected by .

RADIOACTIVITY / RADIATION
Radiation is caused by radioisotopes. There are three types of radiation:
- short wave rays which are the most dangerous
- fast moving beta rays
- high speed rays

Radiation can be measured with a counter. Some types of radiation can last for thousands of years. Some radiation is useful and can be used for and scientific purposes.

AUSTRALIA AND NUCLEAR POWER
In Australia there are no nuclear but there is a small nuclear test reactor near Sydney used for medical and scientific purposes. Australia does have large amounts of uranium, the most important ingredient in producing . The Australian government is now discussing how to of the radioactive waste from the reactor near Sydney and also which countries to sell uranium to. This second question is serious because uranium can be used to make .