Chapter 15 - Energy Resources (Alternative Sources) Flashcards
What is nuclear power comprised of?
Two different types of processes and are named fission and fusion.
What does fission refer to?
It refers to the splitting apart of atomic nuclei into smaller ones, with the release of energy.
What does fusion refer to?
It refers to the combining of smaller nuclei into larger ones, releasing energy.
What is the only nuclear power that is feasible at the moment?
Fission.
What is the most accurate way of describing the process of nuclear fission?
As a series of chain reactions that are controlled with a continuous, moderate release of energy.
Where can the majority of the known uranium deposits be found?
In sedimentary or metasedimentary rocks.
What is the most plentiful naturally occurring fission reactor fuel?
Uranium-235
Why would we want to reprocess already spent fuel?
In order to extract plutonium.
What is a breeder reactor capable of doing?
It is capable of maximizing the production of new fuel.
How do breeder reactors produce energy during operation?
Through fission, in a sustained chain reaction within the reactor core.
What is a loss-of-coolant event?
It is when the flow of cooling water to the core is interrupted.
What occurs in a core meltdown?
It is when the fuel and core materials deteriorate into a molten mass that may or may not melt its way out of the containment building.
Why is plant siting a problem?
Because siting plants close to urban areas puts more people potentially at risk.
What happens when a plant is decommissioned?
It must be taken out of operation, broken down, and most of the radioactive parts delivered to radioactive waste disposal sites.
How is solar energy dissipated throughout the Earth?
It is reflected into space, heats the atmosphere, land, and oceans.
How is the production of electricity using sunlight accomplished?
Through photovoltaic cells, also called solar cells.
What is the basis for extracting geothermal energy?
Magma rising into the crust from the mantle brings hot material nearer to the surface. The heat from the cooling magma heats any groundwater circulating nearby.
What are some limitations to hydrothermal energy?
Each geothermal field can only be used for a few decades, plants need to be put where the hot rocks are, and the number of available places to put these plants is relatively small.
What is the geothermal gradient?
It is the rate of increase of temperature with increasing depth in the earth.
What does ocean thermal energy conversion do?
It exploits the temperature difference between the ocean’s warm surface water and its cool water at depths.
What is a biofuel?
They could be thought of as unfossilized fuels because they represent fuels derived from living or recently living organisms.
