PHYS EXAM 3 Flashcards
atoms:
Nucleus contains protons and neutrons
* Protons have positive electric charge
* Neutrons are electrically neutral
* Electrons orbit outside nucleus
* Electrons have negative electric charge
nuclear FUSION
lighter atomic nuclei fuse into heavier nuclei, releasing energy in the process
nuclear FISSION
heavier atomic nuclei split into lighter nuclei, releasing energy in the process
isotopes of hydrogen
- All hydrogen has one proton.
- Most hydrogen has zero neutrons
- Isotopes may have 1 or 2 neutrons
Easiest to get energy by _____ if element is higher than iron
fusion
Easiest to get energy by ______ if element is heavier than iron
fission
Nuclear fusion in core of Sun
Sun’s core gets hot enough for nuclear fusion to occur
nuclear power plant
Generate energy by nuclear fission of uranium
proton-proton chain (nuclear fusion)
- Start with four hydrogen nuclei
- End with one helium nucleus
- One helium nucleus has almost the same mass as four hydrogen nuclei - but not quite
- Lost mass is converted into energy
- E = mc2 (energy = mass x speed of light)
Nuclear fission in a nuclear powerplant
- U-235 bombarded with neutron
- Uranium nucleus is split
- Other neutrons released
- Starts chain reaction
- Control rods are used to absorb neutrons - control the nuclear reactions
2016 US energy consumption by source
Petroleum -37%
natural gas-29%
coal-15%
renewable energy -10%
nuclear electric power-9%
2016 US electricity consumption by source
natural gas - 33.81%
coal-30.39%
nuclear -19.76%
isotopes
- The number of protons defines an element
- Different isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons
uranium
-92 protons
-143 or 146 neutrons
-metal
-not a fossil fuel
-nonrenewable
uranium-238
-heavier (more neutrons)
-99% of uranium
-92 protons
-146 neutrons
uranium-235
-lighter (less neutrons)
-used in nuclear reactors
-92 protons
-143 neutrons
nuclear binding energy
- Amount of energy required to break an atomic nucleus into its components
- 1 eV = 1.6 x 10 -19 J
MeV
Mega electron volt
1 million eV
electron volt
the amount energy gained (or lost) by moving an electron across 1 volt
Newer generation nuclear reactors
- Newer generation reactors
- Less expensive to install and operate
- Safer: should be able to withstand earthquakes & plane crashes
- Emergency cooling: gravity propels coolant rather than electricity
BTU
BTU: British Thermal Unit(amount of heat to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit)
* 1 BTU = 1055 joules
carbon dioxide
Coal =208,000 lbs/bill BTU
* Oil =164,000 lbs/bill BTU
* Nat gas= 117,000 lbs/bill BTU
* Nuclear= 0
* However, leaks from natural gas pipelines can add significantly to this
carbon monoxide
Leads to increased risk of heart disease
* CO poisoning can lead to death
Coal= 208 lbs/bill BTU
* Oil =33 lbs/bill BTU
* Nat gas= 40 lbs/bill BTU
* nuclear= 0
* (does not include any carbon monoxide produced during uranium mining)
nuclear energy
uses Uranium-235 (4%) the rest is Uranium 238 (does not undergo nuclear fusion)
* Excess neutrons are absorbed by control rods to limit the chain reactions
23.5 degrees
tilt of earth’s axis
winter solstice
-Southern Hemisphere is facing the sun
-winter in the north
-sun is low in the sky, less day light
concentrated solar power
- Sun’s energy focused to a point using mirrors or lenses
- Solar steam engine from 1901
-facility in San Bernadino, CA
Parabolic reflectors used to concentrate sun’s light to a point
Photoelectric effect
- Discovered 1839
- Light shines on certain materials
- Electrons are emitted
wind turbines
-wind turns the crank on turbines, the coils in the magnetic fields turning against each other create electricity
-small wind turbines for home use
Problems with wind energy
- Deaths of birds and bats
- Aesthetics
- noise