A Brief Look at Nuclear Energy

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Radiation is a form of energy and different types of radiation have different amounts of energy. If radioactive waste gets out of its safe container and in to the environment it could contaminate the wildlife and people. A type of radiation is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy was discovered by different people but it all started out in 1895, when Wilhelm Rontgen began passing an electric current through an evacuated glass tube and producing continuous X-rays. Scientists have said that nuclear energy is safer compared to other energy sources. The three safety issues with nuclear energy are controlling the rate of the reaction if the reactions. If uncontrolled it could cause a meltdown and radiation could seep outside of the power plant. Another safety issue is managing the radioactive materials used in the reactors. The last safety issue is the security of the material. “If it gets in to the wrong hands it could cause a nuclear war” (2011). A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atom. The electricity released is used to create heat which is then used to create steam which results in electricity. Amounts of radiation released into the environment are measured in units called curies and the dose that a person receives is measured in units called rem. When it comes to nuclear energy there are a lot of regulations. The first regulation is that the nuclear power plant must be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. While the reactors are being built they will be supervised at all times by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and there has to be a final inspection as soon as the reactor is finished. The U.S. NRC does inspections quite frequently to c... ... middle of paper ... ...ttp://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Homeland+Security+%26+Emergency+Response&L2=Planning+%26+Preparedness&L3=Family&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=mema_nuclear_power_plants_info&csid=Eeops Pros and cons of nuclear energy. (2011). Retrieved May 18, 2011, from http://timeforchange.org/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-power-and-sustainability Safety regulations of nuclear power plants. (2011, February). Retrieved May 16, 2011, from http://www.ehow.com/about_5042817_safety-regulations-nuclear-power-plants.html Sloter, K. (2011, March 17). What really happened– japan nuclear power plant crisis. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from http://umichsph.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/what-really-happened-japan-nuclear-power-plant-crisis/ Staedter, T. (2010, March 17). Is nuclear energy safe? Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://news.discovery.com/tech/is-nuclear-energy-safe.html

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