Power of Nuclear Energy

Abstract

The use of nuclear energy is a big topic for debate. Many countries have fully embraced it while others, such as the U. S., haven’t. Nuclear energy is feared for its danger and scorned because of its wastes. On the other hand, nuclear energy does have some pros like cheaper cost of energy and environmentally safe. Reactor breeders show great promise in nuclear waste, but are it enough to convince the nation?

Introduction

Nuclear knowledge has existed for a long time. Nuclear Engineering U.S. Department of Energy relates, ―By 1900, the physicists knew the atom contains large quantities of energy‖ (par 11). Many others formed good theories, such as Ernest Rutherford and Einstein’s contribution with his equation E=mc^2. In 1934 a physicist known as Enrico Fermi conducted an experiment that resulted in the splitting of atoms. In 1938 two scientists, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman, conducted an experiment that was the beginning of a new realization in the nuclear world. Nuclear Engineering U.S. Department of Energy describes, ―Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman fired neutrons from a source containing the elements radium and beryllium into uranium (atomic number 92)‖ (par 15). The experiment resulted in a new and unexpected out come. The elements that were naturally produced during such experiments weighed only a little less than uranium; whereas, this time the elements were around half as light. They shared their information with Lise Meitner who studied the out come with Neils Bohr and her nephew Otto R. Frisch. The three of them concluded that the light weighted elements were the results of

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the uranium splitting also known as fission. Lise Meitner proved this theory using Einstein’s theory.

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...ear energy has many faults, but along with it nuclear energy has many advantages. People need to put aside the fears of nuclear plant that have grown out of tragedies and scares such as Three Miles Island and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion. The Chernobyl has been the only plant that has caused destruction out of over six decades of nuclear power. The nuclear waste can be reused to form more energy using breeder reactors solving most of the waste problem. The costs of nuclear energy are lower than the costs for most other forms of energy. Nuclear energy is constant and not seasonal like solar or wind energy. It is environmentally safe for animals and people living near by. Nuclear energy does not contribute to nuclear energy like coal produced energy. It would be a smart move for our country to move in the direction towards a more nuclear powered nation.