| It is said that the power of of the atom inside a fission | | | | main source of energy the solutions for disposing it |
| reactor is one of the best energy sources we | | | | would improve with emerging technologies. |
| currently have as an alternative energy source. The | | | | How The Energy Is Produced |
| reason behind this is that the atom can generate a | | | | Energy is produced by a nuclear power plant when |
| very large amount of power, but should nuclear energy | | | | the splitting of the atom occurs and releases an |
| be considered as an option for alternative energy? | | | | energy in both the form of heat and light. People might |
| We will take a look at this technology and its use as | | | | be concerned that these reactions can turn into |
| an alternative energy source. | | | | explosions, but it is not something to worry about. The |
| Is It Clean Energy? | | | | reason why is that these nuclear power plants control |
| Nuclear power plants that house these huge fission | | | | the reactions so that they don not turn into a nuclear |
| reactors are actually very clean burning and extremely | | | | explosion. The technology behind an atomic bomb |
| efficient. The reason that they operate so efficiently is | | | | requires much more specialized conditions and utilizes |
| that the energy that is output by the plants is just | | | | a Plutonium that is pure and inside the walls of a |
| about the same and equal to the energy that is out | | | | nuclear power plant these conditions do not exist, so |
| into the fission reactors. As far as waste materials | | | | there is a zero percent chance that an explosion could |
| produced by this process of nuclear fission, it is not | | | | happen. |
| really considered a lot of waste, but the major | | | | Fear Of A Meltdown |
| concerns among people is the radioactive waste that | | | | The one main concern however is a meltdown |
| needs to be disposed of and properly stored. | | | | occurring which can result in the release of harmful |
| The problem with the radiation from this waste is that | | | | radioactive gases into the environment. An event like |
| it sticks around for a very long time. Once it is sealed | | | | this is very rare and the chance of it happening is not |
| and contained it can never really be released. If you | | | | high. With over 430 nuclear reactors spread |
| look in comparison though to the amount of air pollution | | | | throughout the world, it has only happened a few times |
| that is produced during rush hour traffic in a major city, | | | | and was usually the result of or caused by the use of |
| it is quite larger then that of the waste produced by | | | | materials that were outdated and plants that were not |
| nuclear energy. The radioactive waste produced by | | | | properly maintained over the years to prevent such a |
| this nuclear fission process is much more deadlier then | | | | calamity. It is because of these few and unfortunate |
| air pollution, but it is also a lot easier to contain and | | | | accidents that there has been so much resistance to |
| dispose of. The actually chance of it leaking or getting | | | | nuclear energy as a viable alternate energy source. |
| out is very low. If nuclear energy were ever to be a | | | | |