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A Level Environmental Science > Energy Resources - Nuclear > Flashcards

Energy Resources - Nuclear Flashcards

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1
Q

What is nuclear fission?

A

The process in which a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei and releases energy

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2
Q

What are the two most common nuclear fuels?

A
  • Uranium (235)
  • Plutonium
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3
Q

What is a fissile fuel?

A

A fuel which can be used in nuclear reactors as it can be split by neutrons in a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction

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4
Q

What is nuclear fusion?

A

The process in which two nuclei (usually isotopes of H) merge to form a single heavier nucleus and release energy

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5
Q

What are the main advantages of nuclear energy?

A
  • Very high energy density
  • Uranium reactors are developed
  • Easy to convert to electricity
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6
Q

What are the main disadvantages of nuclear energy?

A
  • Non-renewable
  • High embodied energy
  • Many environmental impacts
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7
Q

What are the new methods of extracting uranium?

A
  • Polymer adsorption in seawater
  • Phosphate mining
  • Extraction from coal ash
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8
Q

What is a traditional nuclear reactor known as?

A

Light-water reactor

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9
Q

What are the three new reactor designs?

A
  • Molten salt reactors
  • Plutonium reactors
  • Thorium reactors
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10
Q

What happens in a molten salt reactor?

A

Molten salt is used as a reactor coolant in place of water

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11
Q

What is the main advantage of MSRs?

A

The reactor can operate at higher temperatures than LWRs (without needing high pressure to prevent coolant boiling)

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12
Q

What safety feature does an MSR have?

A

A plug which melts when temperature becomes too high, releasing fuel from reactor core to stop chain reaction

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13
Q

What are the disadvantages of MSRs?

A
  • Concerns over high temperatures
  • Molten salt is corrosive
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14
Q

What are the two main isotopes of uranium?

A
  • Uranium-235
  • Uranium-238
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15
Q

What is the difference between uranium-235 and uranium-238?

A

Uranium-235 is a fissile fuel whereas uranium-238 is non-fissile

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16
Q

What type of fuel is uranium-238?

A

Fertile

17
Q

How does a plutonium reactor work?

A

Fertile uranium-238 is bombarded with neutrons to make it fissile, producing plutonium-239

18
Q

What is the main advantage of plutonium reactors?

A

Uranium-238 is much more abundant than uranium-235

19
Q

What is the main disadvantage of plutonium reactors?

A

Would require a breeder reactor, increasing construction costs

20
Q

How do thorium reactors work?

A

Thorium-232 is a fertile fuel which can be made into fissile U-233 when bombarded with neutrons

21
Q

What are the main advantages of thorium reactors?

A
  • Thorium fuel is used within the fuel rods so no breeder reactor is required
  • Waste has a shorter half-life
22
Q

What are the main sources of nuclear fusion fuel?

A
  • Hydrogen-2 (deuterium)
  • Hydrogen-3 (tritium)
23
Q

What five conditions are required for nuclear fusion?

A
  1. Very high temperature
  2. Heavy nuclei
  3. H in the form of plasma
  4. Magnetic field
  5. Vacuum
24
Q

Why does fusion require very high temperature?

A

Increases Ek and therefore the chance of nuclei collisions

25
Q

Why does fusion require heavy nuclei?

A

Greater momentum to repel like charges (+)

26
Q

Why does fusion require H in the form of plasma?

A

Concentrates H in one place

27
Q

Why does fusion require a magnetic field?

A

Holds the plasma centrally in the vacuum so it does not make contact with the sides of the reactor

28
Q

Why does fusion require a vacuum?

A

To prevent the plasma being cooled by any air

29
Q

What is a toroidal reactor?

A

A torus-shaped reactor which can potentially be used for fusion generation

30
Q

What is laser fusion?

A

A potential fusion generation method that requires no plasma and directs laser beams at heavy H isotopes

31
Q

What is the main advantage of laser fusion?

A

Does not require all five conditions for nuclear fusion

A Level Environmental Science (22 decks)

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