Nuclear Reactions and Nuclear Energy

Earth Science 6 Nuclear Energy

By Nahrain Barno

Wouldn’t it be great if people could use the same method as the sun to produce energy? The kind of reactions that power the sun involve the central cores of atoms. The central core of an atom that contains the protons and neutrons is called the NUCLEUS. Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in tremendous amounts of energy. Two types of nuclear reactions are:

1. Nuclear Fission: The splitting of an atom’s nucleus into two smaller nuclei.

2. Nuclear Fusion: The combining of two atomic nuclei to produce a single larger nucleus.

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Multiple Choice

The central core of an atom that contains the protons and neutrons is called the

• molecule

• electron

• nucleus

Nuclear reactions convert matter into energy. As part of his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein developed a formula that described the relationship between energy and matter. You have probably seen this famous equation: E = mc2. In the equation, the E represents energy and the m represents mass. The c, which represents the speed of light, is a very large number. This equation states that when matter is changed into energy, an enormous amount of energy is released.​

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Nuclear Fission

Fission Reactions

Nuclear fission is the splitting of an atom's nucleus into two smaller nuclei. The nucleus splits apart into two smaller nuclei and two or more neutrons, so the fission reaction has produced more neutrons. If any of these neutrons strikes another nucleus, the fission reaction is repeated. More neutrons and more energy are released. If there are enough nuclei nearby, the process repeats in a chain reaction, just like a row of dominoes falling. In a nuclear chain reaction, the amount of energy released increases rapidly with each step in the chain. 

Energy From Fission

What happens to all the energy released by these fission reactions? If a nuclear chain reaction is not controlled, the released energy causes a huge explosion. The explosion of an atomic bomb is an uncontrolled nuclear fission reaction. A few kilograms of matter explode with more force than several thousand tons of dynamite. However, if the chain reaction is controlled in a power plant, the energy is released as heat, which can then be used to generate electricity.​

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Nuclear Fission Reactions in Nature

• This process causes convection currents

  • moves Earth​'s tectonic plates

• Generates:

  • Earthquakes

  • Volcanic eruptions​

• Produces vast quantities of energy.

• Involves the splitting of harmful radioactive elements.

• Loss of control leads to harm​ful radiation exposure.

In a nuclear power plant, the heat released from fission is used to change water into steam. The steam then turns the blades of a turbine to generate electricity.

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Nuclear Power Plants

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​Nuclear fusion is the combining of two atomic nuclei to produce a single larger nucleus. In nuclear fusion, two hydrogen nuclei combine to create a helium nucleus, which has slightly less mass than the two hydrogen nuclei. The lost mass is converted to large amounts of energy. Nuclear fusion is the process by which the sun produces energy. On Earth, fusion is a promising future energy source. Fusion fuels are readily available-water contains a form of hydrogen that could be used. Since its fuel can be found in water, fusion is considered a renewable energy source. Fusion would not produce air pollution. And unlike fission, fusion would not produce long-lived radioactive wastes. However, fusion can take place only at extremely high pressures and temperatures.

Nuclear Fusion

Multiple Choice

Nuclear fission is the combining of two atomic nuclei to produce a single larger nucleus.

• TRUE

• FALSE

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New nuclear technology has proven to be difficult to turn into weapons

Multiple Choice

The splitting of a nucleus into smaller nuclei is

• fusion

• fission

• decay

• gamma radiation

Multiple Choice

This happens naturally due to an unstable nucleus.

• fission
• fusion
• radioactive decay
• K-capture

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about nuclear fusion?

• It is easy to implement.

• It produces less energy than nuclear fission.

• It produces more energy than nuclear fission.

• It has the ability to occur easily in everyday life.

Multiple Choice

Takes two small nuclei and combines them into a larger nucleus

• fission

• fusion

Multiple Choice

In which process does a heavy nucleus split into two lighter nuclei?

• freezing

• condensation

• fission

• fusion

Multiple Choice

Which phrase describes a risk associated with producing energy in a nuclear power plant?

• depletion of atmospheric hydrogen

• depletion of atmospheric carbon dioxide

• production of wastes needing long-term storage

• production of wastes that cool surrounding water supplies

Multiple Choice

What occurs in both fusion and fission reactions?

• Small amounts of energy are converted into large amounts of matter.

• Small amounts of matter are converted into large amounts of energy.

• Heavy nuclei are split into lighter nuclei.

• Light nuclei are combined into heavier nuclei.

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​ ​ Nuclear power can be used to create weapons of mass destruction

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Nuclear power produces no air particulates that damage lungs like burning fossil fuels does

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​ ​ When rules aren't followed, melt downs can occur releasing radioactive material into environment

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​ ​ Nuclear energy can fill the gaps in energy provided by renewable energy resources

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​ ​ Nuclear waste is toxic and must be stored far away from people, and food and water supplies

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​ ​ Nuclear power requires "behind the scenes" actions like mining, refining, and storing wastes that uses a lot of energy

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Newer reactor types are able to reduce nuclear waste by recycling the reaction products

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When following regulations, there is little risk for nuclear power plant workers

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The output of energy from a nuclear power plant is relatively high (a lot of energy is produced with a small amount of fuel)

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No carbon dioxide, CO₂, or other main greenhouse gases are emitted from a nuclear powerplant

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​ ​ Nuclear waste must be stored for thousands of years 

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​ ​ Land exposed to a nuclear melt down will be unused for decades

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Technology used to develop nuclear power plants has been used to develop technologies in other areas such as pharmaceuticals and medicine

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​ ​ Building new nuclear power plants is expensive