The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Energy

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Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is energy produced in a nuclear reaction. This reaction can be naturally produced or can be artificially made. Both fission and fusion are examples of nuclear energy. Fission is taking a large nucleus and splitting it into smaller nuclei, the action of splitting the nucleus into smaller nuclei causes mass amounts of energy to be emitted from the reaction. Fusion amounts for mass amounts of energy produced around the world. This form of nuclear energy is the most efficient in terms of use of energy to production of energy. Fission generally involves the use of uranium, this is due to it's large weight (of the nucleus). While fusion is the joining of two smaller nuclei and forming a larger nucleus. This reaction is impractical in terms of energy production. This is due to the fact that the action of fusion requires more energy to occur than it would produce after the fusion has occurred, but when done correctly the energy produced is unbelievable in comparison to fission. Uses of Fission include power reactors and nuclear weapons. Neutron Fission Power Reactors- this involves the fission of Uranium with nuclear waste and nuclear material as its byproducts. One of the byproducts is Plutonium which is commonly used in nuclear weapons. Also fission is used for Nuclear Weapons- what is meant by this is that the byproduct of fission allows for nuclear material to be produced as well as producing nuclear waste that can allow for nuclear weapons to be manufactured. The issue with the nuclear waste produced is that there are no restrictions or preventative measures that are enforced or in place to help with the environment. Fusion as an energy source, If fusion could be completed without usin... ... middle of paper ... ...oving and or disproving previous theories. 2000-Present- Andrea Rossi- (Not really cold fusion) but he has developed a device called an E-Cat that involves Nickel and Hydrogen reactions. These small nuclear reactions emit rather significant amounts of energy. Rossi himself doesn’t want to associate his device with “Cold Fusion’ due to the fact that the field itself has such negativity involved. (Thanks Nuclear Physicists) Another important thing to mention is that no radioactive materials are used and or produced, only metals like Nickel and some Copper are produced. Any radiation that is produced in the nuclear reaction will only last for a maximum lifetime of 20 minutes, this is due to the fact that the radiation itself is thermalized. (Generally this reaction is considered “Cold Fusion” but Rossi believes that it is actually Low-Energy Nuclear Reaction or LENR)

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