Nuclear Power

Description

• generated by nuclear reactor
• nuclear energy comes from splitting of an atom called nuclear fission
• When an atom splits, it gives off heat which is used to make electricity

Origins and Discovery

• First power plant to operate was in England in 1956
• The first U.S. plant opened in 1957 in Pennsylvania
• Fission (splitting of atoms) was first discovered in 1934

Energy

• Nuclear energy is used to make heat energy which is used to make electricity
• Nuclear reactors are powered by Uranium
• One pound of Uranium has as much energy as three million pounds of coal

Current uses

• Nuclear power is used to power homes and schools and businesses etc.
• It provides 10% of the world's electricity
• It is also used for nuclear bombs

BEnefits

• It's not very pollutant
• 60 nuclear plants will add 60,000 megawatts of electricity
• 1 lb. of Uranium=3,000,000 lb. of coal

drawbacks

• 99 nuclear power plant accidents worldwide
• in 2012, American nuclear reactors produced 67,000 metric tons of highly radioactive waste.
• This increases every year by 2,000

Future supply

• Today over 60 nuclear power plants are under construction
• 60 plants can produce 236,220 megawatts of energy every year