Nuclear Power Flashcards
What is nuclear power?
Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms to create energy
How does nuclear power work?
Nuclear energy works by splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission. This generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity.
Give reasons for why nuclear power is sustainable
-it has saved 1.8 million lives a people didn’t risk their lives in coal mines and it doesn’t emit co2
-one ton of thorium is the same as 200 tons of uranium and 3500000 tons of coal
-even though nuclear waste is very toxic it is usually stored somewhere unlike the bi products of fossil fuels
Give reasons for why nuclear power is not sustainable
-they can be used as weapons
-nuclear fuel contains poisonous chemicals such as plutonium
-if accidents happen it would be a major disaster
Give a summary of the Chernobyl disaster
-in 1986 a nuclear reactor exploded in Chernobyl, Ukraine
-around 150 tons of nuclear particles were in the air which spread over Europe and parts of Russia
-it is thought that the reactor site will not become habitable again for at least 20,000 years
-around 110000 people were evacuated
Give a some of the impacts of the Chernobyl disaster (give 4)
-radiation was found in food and drink
-pregnant people asked to abort due to defects
-animals gained mutations
-the area will not be habitable for 20,000 years
-Pripryat became a ghost town
-people got ill from the radiation
-loss of habitats
-radiation in the air
Who were the liquidators?
People who were drafted to clean up the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. They had very little protective clothing and they were only allowed into the reactor for 90 seconds at a time.
Give some social impacts of the Chernobyl disaster (give 2)
-children of survivors gained illnesses
-40,000 people evacuated from Pripryat and Chernobyl
Give some environmental impacts of the Chernobyl disaster (give 3)
-loss of habitats
-animals gained mutations
-radiation in the air
