Superpowers Flashcards
What is nucleur power?
Nuclear power is electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor/reaction.
How does nucleur power work?
- Neutrons are fired at the uranium atoms in the sealed metal cylinders. This causes them to split and release more neutrons which hit other atomes causing more splits and so on. This generates huge amounts of heat.
- Water is passed through the reactor vessel, where the atoms heat it to around 300°C. The pressuriser applies around 155 times atmospheric pressure to stop it from boiling and evaporating.
- A coolant pump then circulates the hot, pressurised water from the reactor vessel through to a steam generator.
- This hot, pressurised water flows through thousands of looped pipes while a second stream of water flows around the outside of the pipes. This water is under much less pressure, so the heat from the pipes boils it into steam.
- The steam passes through a series of turbines, and causes them to spin. This converts the steam’s heat energy into mechanical energy. A shaft connects the turbines, which are spinning at 3000 revs per minute, to a generator. The generator then uses an electromagnetic field to convert this mechanical energy into electrical energy.
- A transformer converts the electrical energy to the high voltage needed by the national grid.
- At the end of the power lines are the homes, businesses and services that use the electricity. Other transformers reduce the voltage back down to a usable level.
- It is passed over pipes full of cold water pumped in from the sea. These cool the steam and condense it back into water. It’s then piped back into the steam generator where the process start again.
How is nucleur energy sustainable?
It causes much less deaths than fossil fuels.
It reduces CO2 emmisions.
New technology that will be made in the future will help keep it safe and contained.
How is nuclear energy unsustainable?
Nuclear weapons are made with the help of reactor technology causing many deaths.
Nuclear waste which is poisonous is put in the environment. It takes tens of thousands of years to lose its harmfulness.
Accidents and disasters due to nuclear energy have caused thousands of deaths.
What were the impacts of the Chernobyl disaster?
110,000 people are evacuated from the dead zone.
40,000 people evacuated from Pripyat and Chernobyl, leaving all their things.
Vegetables and animals were contaminated by radioactive rain in the dead zone.
The ground in Russia was contaminated as the wind blew radioactive dust over areas of the country.
The radiation was carried to Norway and Finland, where the reindeer which the people rely on for food and clothes are affected. The fish were also contaminated.
The radiation made the liquidators ill and many died, and their children have also been born with illnesses.
What is a superpower?
A superpower is an extremely powerful country, especially one capable of influencing international events and the acts and policies of less powerful countries. It’s power can be felt all over the world.
What are the seven factors that make a superpower nation?
Size (area) - Greater natural resources.
Population - Cheap workers who can help promote economic growth.
Resources - Resources necessary for economic development.
Military power - Used to exert pressure. They are more powerful.
Economic Power - Big influence over global economies.
Cultural (soft) power - how appealing a nations way of life, value and beliefs are to others. Often happens through film, the arts and food.
Political Power - Countries which have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council – which is the key decision making body.
What is a uni-polar world system?
Where most of the world regions economic, social, cultural aspects are influenced by single state/country
What is a bi-polar world system?
A system of world order in which the majority of global economic, military and cultural influences held between two states.
What is a multi-polar world system?
Power is distributed, at least a among three significant poles (countries).
What five countries have seat on the UN Security Council?
USA, UK, Russia, France, China
What are the BRIC Nations?
Brazil, Russia, India, China
What are the MINT Nations?
Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey
What are BRIC and MINT countries?
BRIC - The BRICs are likely to become more powerful, but this will not happen overnight.
MINT - Countries that have the potential to have large economies quickly.
What is colonialism?
The act of one nation controlling another for economic gain. An example of colonialism was Britain’s control over India.
