Nuclear self-study
Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus of an atom. This type of energy holds the nucleus together. This type of energy can be used to generate electricity after it has been released from the atom. This process called nuclear fission where the atoms are split to release the energy. This is a done at a nuclear plant or reactor where machines work to produce electricity through a fission process. These reactors needs fuel to work the system, the fuel that is used is uranium. Uranium atoms split and start a chain reaction. The energy that is released from this chain reaction creates heat will eventually goes into cooling machines. The combination of cooling and hearing produces steam that will eventually turn the generators that produce electricity. About 15 percent of the world’s electricity is generated through nuclear plants.
There many pros and cons to this type of energy. Ones in favor of nuclear energy argue that it is one of the cleaner forms of energy generation because it does not produce any greenhouse emissions the way fossil fuel energy does. On the other hand, this type of energy generation has significant radioactive waste that is extremely dangerous and expensive to dispose of. Proponents also discuss the fact that nuclear energy is more reliable than the fossil fuel energy that is going to run out in the next decades. Many of these different reactors can produce massive amounts of energy from uranium consumption for electricity generation.
The opponents of nuclear energy state that the radioactive and plant accidents that take place are too high of a cost to pay for energy generation. Since the radioactive waste that is left over is so harmless to humans and the environment, it is very costly to clean up accidents properly. In addition, these experts argue that uranium is not a renewable source of mineral and it has finite resources. Overall, the cost of reactors maintenance and keep up is higher than other alternative sources of energy.
Sources:
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/nuclear-energy/
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today/
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-energy.php