NUCLEAR

WHAT IS NUCLEAR ENERGY?

Nuclear
energy
is energy?
the energy that binds the
What is
nuclear
protons and neutrons together in the nucleus
Nuclear
energy in the
nucleus
(core)
of anenergy
atom. is
Sometimes,
a big
nucleus
splits
into
smaller
ones,are
releasing
energy in
(core)
oftwo
an atom.
Atoms
tiny particles
thethat
process.
process
is called
make This
up every
object
in thenuclear
universe.
fission.
The
energy
released
is
converted
There is enormous energy in the bonds into
that
heat,
which
can
be
used
to
drive
a
turbine
and
hold atoms together.
generate electricity. In other situations, two
What
typesmay
of nuclear
energyto
aremake
there?
small
nuclei
join together
a bigger
one. This is the process of nuclear fusion.
There are two ways to release energy from
Nuclear fusion takes place inside the sun,
an atom:
releasing the energy we know as solar radiation
(ultraviolet
and infra-red
nuclealight,
r fus iodaylight
n
radiation).
nuclea r fis s ion
Nuclear
fusion: In nuclear
fusion,FROM
energy
HOW
IS ELECTRICITY
GENERATED
is released
when atoms are combined or
NUCLEAR
ENERGY?
The
essential
parts
a nuclear
fused
together
toof
form
a largerpower
atom.station
This is
arehow
the the
reactor,
which contains
sun produces
energy.fuel rods, coolant, control rods and shielding; a heat
Nuclear fission:
In nuclear
ssion, atoms are
exchanger;
a turbine;
and a figenerator.
split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing
power plants
use nuclear
Allenergy.
nuclearNuclear
power stations
currently
operating
fi
ssion
to
produce
electricity.
in the world use the process of nuclear fission,
and most use uranium as their main fuel.
How is electricity generated from
Uranium is quite a common metal found in
nuclear
energy?
rocks
around
the world. Natural uranium is
made
up ofpower
two kinds
of atoms,
U-235
and
Nuclear
reactors
or nuclear
power
U-238,
but
onlyelectricity
U-235 is used
in nuclear power
plants
create
by combining
plants.
When
the
nucleus
of
a
chemical reactions and heat.U-235 atom is hit
by a neutron, it splits into two smaller nuclei,
and
in the fiprocess
releases
a large
amount
Nuclear
ssion: The
fuel most
widely
used of
by
energy
andpower
moreplants
neutrons.
The energy
is is
nuclear
for nuclear
fission
absorbed
as
heat
by
the
coolant,
and
then
uranium. Uranium is non-renewable, though
produces
steam that
drives
a turbine
it is a common
metal
found
in rocks and
around
electrical
generator.
Some
of
the
neutrons
hit
the world. Most nuclear plants use a certain
more
nuclei(U-235)
and so as
keep
the
fission its
kindU-235
of uranium
fuel,
because
process going; the others are absorbed by the
control rods.

The
fuel is
usually
oxide in the form of
atoms
are
easily uranium
split apart.
pellets that are packed into tubes to be loaded
During
nuclearThe
fission,
a small
particlethe
called
into
the reactor.
pellets
are about
size of
your
fingertip,
one produces
same
a neutron
hitsbut
theeach
uranium
atom andthe
it splits,
amount
of
energy
as
567
kg
of
coal.
releasing a great amount of energy as heat
and radiation. As more neutrons are released
WHAT
THE ADVANTAGES
NUCLEAR
they ARE
bombard
other uraniumOF
atoms,
and the
ENERGY?
process of nuclear fission repeats itself over
A nuclear
uses aasteam
turbine
and overpower
again.station
This is called
chain reaction.
and generator to produce electricity in exactly
plants
use the
heat
given power
off during
theNuclear
same way
as any
other
thermal
station.
the heat
needed
to create
fissionHowever,
as fuel. Fission
takes
place inside
thethe
high-pressure
steam
is
produced
much
more
reactor of a nuclear power plant. At the
efficiently
emission
of carbon
center ofand
thewithout
reactor the
is the
core, which
dioxide
or other
pollutants
contains
the uranium
fuel.that are formed
when things are burnt. In this respect, nuclear
The uranium
fuel
is more
formed
into ceramic
energy
is cleaner
and
environmentally
pellets.than
Thecoal-,
pelletsoilareorabout
the size
of your
friendly
gas-fired
power
stations.
fingertip, but each one produces the same
amount of energy as 567 kilograms of coal.

THE GUNDREMMINGEN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN GERMANY.

SOURCE: ENCARTAMSN.COM

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copyright holder. From ElectroCity www.electrocity.co.nz Genesis Energy 2010.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR

These energy-rich pellets are stacked endENERGY?
to-end
in 3.6
metre metal
fuel
rods. materials
A bundle
The
process
of nuclear
fission
creates
of are
fuelstill
rodsradioactive
is called a and
fuel that
assembly.
that
will remain
harmful
to humans
andburning
to the environment
for
In the same
way that
coal generates
thousands
evenboiler,
millions
of years.
Currently,
heat in a or
steam
fission
generates
heat
the
only
safe
way
to
store
such
waste
is
to
in a reactor. This heat boils water to makebury it
very
deepThe
underground
places
that are
steam.
steam turnsinhuge
turbine
blades,
unlikely
to
ever
be
populated.
driving generators that make electricity.
What areatthe
advantages
nuclearare
energy?
Accidents
nuclear
powerofstations
very
rare, but when they do occur, they can be
In comparison to burning fossil fuels, nuclear
catastrophic. The best known and most deadly
energy is a cleaner way to create electricity.
accident occurred at the Chernobyl power plant
Nuclear energy doesnt emit carbon dioxide
in the USSR (now Ukraine) in 1986, when a
or other pollutants while in use.
reactor exploded and sent a huge cloud of
What are the
disadvantages
of
radioactive
material
into the atmosphere.
The
nuclear energy?
immediate
area remains unpopulated to this day,
and much of northern Europe was affected by
The process of nuclear fission creates
this event. It is impossible to estimate the final
radioactive waste. Radioactive waste is
damage from such an accident.
extremely toxic and harmful to humans and
the environment. It currently must be stored
Steam coming out of the turbine is also still hot,
safely underground.
and so adds heat to the environment.
How is nuclear energy used in New Zealand?
HOW IS NUCLEAR ENERGY USED IN NEW
Nuclear energy is not used in New Zealand
ZEALAND?
as we have a nuclear-free policy. There is a
Because of the dangers posed by nuclear waste
lot of controversy about using nuclear
and the risk of large-scale nuclear accidents, New
energy. Some experts think its a cleaner
Zealand has a nuclear-free policy and so we have
more efficient way to generate electricity,
no nuclear power stations. However, they are
while environmental groups and a lot of the
common in many other countries, including
public are against using nuclear power.
Great Britain; France, which generates 80% of its
electricity from nuclear energy; and the

United States, which produces the most nuclear

The United
States of America produces the
energy
in the world.
most nuclear energy in the world but it only
provides for 20% of its electricity. While
ACTIVITIES
France ONE
uses nuclear energy to create 80%
ACTIVITY
of its electricity.
Debate
Divide the class into groups. Each group selects the
advantages
or the disadvantages of using nuclear
ACTIVITIES
energy. Using classroom resources, the library, and
ACTIVITY ONE
the Internet, groups research their topic and
DEBATE
prepare a five minute presentation. Each group
delivers
presentation
to the
class
and answers
Dividetheir
the class
into groups.
Each
group
questions
afterwards.
selects the
advantages or the disadvantages
of using nuclear energy. Using classroom
ACTIVITY
TWO
resources,
the library, and the Internet,
Students
write
down
tentopic
key words
that they
groups research
their
and prepare
a came
across
in the study
of nuclearEach
energy.
Create
a
five minute
presentation.
group
delivers
glossary
with the keyto
words
and and
definitions.
their presentation
the class
answers
questions afterwards.
ACTIVITY TWO
Students write down ten key words that
they came across in the study of nuclear
energy. Create a glossary with the key
words and definitions.

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

Andy Darvills Science Site: www.darvill.clara.net

World Nuclear Association: www.world-nuclear.org
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency:
www.oecd-nea.org