Define the nuclear power, Physics

Assignment Help:

Define the Nuclear Power

As an energy source, nuclear power is an alternative to fossil fuels.  Controlled nuclear chain reactions are used to generate electricity in a safe manner in nuclear power plants. The fuel used in nuclear power plants consists of uranium: U-238 and U-235. U-235 undergoes fission and releases a tremendous amount of energy, triggering other atoms to split, if the uranium is concentrated in a tight ball.  Control rods are made of good neutron absorbers such as boron. The control rods are lowered into the fuel to slow down the fission reaction. They absorb some of the neutrons produced by the fission reactions so that there are fewer neutrons available to start othesr reactions. This keeps the overall reaction under control.

A gas or water is used as a coolant. The coolant carries heat from the reactor to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger contains water which is heated to form steam. The steam moves a turbine which in turn drives a generator. The generator produces electricity.

One major downside to using nuclear fuel to power electric generating power plants is the spent fuel that must be dealt with, since the waste products of the fission reactions are still radioactive.  Much of the radioactive waste material has a half-life of thousands of years.  Safe storage of these materials is of major concern, because of the possibility of leaks, and they pose a long-term environmental pollution problem.

To calculate the energy produced during a nuclear fission or fusion reaction, we must first calculate the mass lost during the reaction. We then use Einstein’s famous equation of E = mc2 to calculate the energy produced during the reaction.


Related Discussions:- Define the nuclear power

What is the law of machines, What is the Law of Machines? Machines whic...

What is the Law of Machines? Machines which are used to lift a heavy load are governed by the "Law of machines", which says that the effort to be applied on the machine (p) is

Can a solid and liquid together be possible, Can a solid and liquid togethe...

Can a solid and liquid together be possible? Actually, substances can exist in all three states of matter concurrently if the conditions are right. The triple point of a substa

Final image is formed at the near point of the eye, A compound microscope w...

A compound microscope with an objective of 1.0 cm focal length and an eye-piece of 2.0 cm focal length has a tube length of 20 cm. Measure the magnifying power of the microscope, i

Electronics, a n-p-n transistor having a.c. current gain of 50 is to be use...

a n-p-n transistor having a.c. current gain of 50 is to be used to make an amplifier of power gain 300. what will be the voltage gain of amplifer

Calculate the local value of g, An astronaut on a small planet wishes to me...

An astronaut on a small planet wishes to measure the local value of  g  by timing pulses traveling down a wire which hasa large object suspended from it. Assume a wire of mass3.50

Refractive index, refractive index of the transparent liquids using prism a...

refractive index of the transparent liquids using prism and spectrometer

Manufacturing of single sided printed circuit board, In single sided PCB th...

In single sided PCB the conductor tracks run only on one side of copper clad board. Thus crossing of conductors is not permitted. Base material is chosen as per the application. It

Visible light, how can sensitivity curve b measured?

how can sensitivity curve b measured?

Electric potential of a solid object, Which statement concerning the electr...

Which statement concerning the electric potential of a solid object made out of a perfectly conducting medium is most correct? Answer: It is the electric field which is z

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd