Nuclear Energy
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Nuclear energy is primarily used to generate electricity and for ship propulsion. It is a clean energy source, and new reactor design has made it safer than ever to produce. However, disposal of the highly toxic waste and potential nuclear proliferation make it a controversial energy source.
What is nuclear energy?Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. Bonds that hold atoms together contain large amounts of energy that is released in the form of heat in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. How nuclear energy is formedIn nuclear fusion, atoms release energy as they combine or fuse together to form a larger atom. For instance, this is how the sun produces energy. In nuclear fission, atoms release energy as they split apart to form smaller atoms. As the atom fragments hit other atoms, they also split, which produces more heat. the heat produces steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity. History of nuclear energyNuclear energy is a relatively new energy source. It was discovered in the 20th century unlike fossil fuels, which have been used for millions of years. Read more. Uses for nuclear energyNuclear power is primarily used for ship propulsion and electricity generation. Some countries rely on nuclear energy for the majority of their electric power. Read more. Demand for nuclear energyNuclear power is an important source of energy in many countries. About 16% of the world's energy comes from nuclear power. In 2005, 16 countries got more than 25% of their electricity from nuclear plants. Read more. More ResourcesABC's of Nuclear Science - An introduction to nuclear science from the Nuclear Science Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Facts. Also included experiment ideas for chemistry and physics. American Nuclear Society - The public section of this web site features resources for teachers, students, the media, and industry professionals. Recent news events and information on how to begin a conversation on nuclear matters is also included. Areva Group (France) - Web site of the France-based world leader in nuclear power. The web site offers educational material both in French and English, unless otherwise noted. Aula didáctica - Nuclenor (Spain) - Web site from Nuclenor (Nucleares del Norte) a spanish company specialized in nuclear technology and owner of the Santa Maria de Garoña nuclear power plant. The educational section of the web site includes documents and interactive material that answer questions about energy, nuclear energy applications, and how nuclear energy is produced. Currently available only in Spanish. BBC Schools (UK): Radiation and matter / Nuclear reactions - Bite Size Revision section of the BBC Schools web site targeting secondary students (ages 16+). BBC's Guide to UK Nuclear Power (UK) - Part of the In-Depth Guides Series from BBC. Offers an overview on how nuclear power works, nuclear waste, cost of nuclear power estimates, and a comparison of the UK’s major current and likely future energy sources. British Energy (UK): Understanding Nuclear - The British Energy site has three animated diagrams on the AGR, PWR reactor types and the basics of fission in reactors. PDF information sheets that complement the diagrams are also provided. CASEnergy Classroom -
offers materials and visuals allowing you to learn about some basic facts within the nuclear world. Chart of Nuclides - Interactive chart of nuclides, presented by the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) Control The Nuclear Power Plant (Sweden) - Teaches visually about nuclear power plants, featuring an interactive diagram and a Java applet that allow visitors to simulate controlling the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Energía nuclear (Spain) - Chapter of an electronic book created by the University of Navarra, School of Engineering (Spain). Available only in Spanish. Espace Jeunes - CEA (France) - Web site of the French government-funded technological research organisation. Offers a broad spectrum of resources about radioactivity, nuclear energy, and nuclear waste: online reports, multimedia/animations, pdf booklets, and more. Available only in French. European Nuclear Society - Offers glossary of nuclear terms, exhaustive, terrific for all ages, available also as downloadable PDF file and the info pool on nuclear topics exploring the energy uses of nuclear power, nuclear power plants, nuclear in the energy mix, and generation IV. Suitable for high school students. Foro nuclear (Spain) - Comprehensive web site by the Spanish Nuclear Industry Forum, a nonprofit association of Spanish companies involved in the peaceful use of nuclear power. Provides resources including: "Most common Questions about nuclear energy", "Nuclear energy in Spain and in the world", "Spanish nuclear industry", "Nuclear Technology Dictionary English-Spanish", photo gallery, virtual tours and more. Available in Spanish and English. Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century: Nuclear Technologies - Contains detailed historical information, timelines, and personal essays by key innovators for each of 20 major engineering accomplishments of the 20th century. The section on Nuclear Technologies addresses the historical perspective and the regulatory side of the industry.
Recommended for high school students. Howstuffworks Express: Going Nuclear: How Atomic Science Powers the World Around You - A print and online magazine for middle school students and their parents/teachers. Información para Estudiantes (Chile) - A nuclear energy related web site of the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN). The web site features a section with information targeting Spanish-speaking students INSC: Maps of Nuclear Power Reactors - Argonne's International Nuclear Safety Center (INSC) web site features maps of power reactor locations worldwide. Includes information on power reactors only. Experimental reactors and other nuclear facilities are not included. Recommended to high school students and teachers. Kernenergie.de (Germany) - German information portal for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. A group of resources is also available in English. Includes nuclear energy resources covering nuclear energy basics such as history, safety, nuclear power plants in Germany and in the world, fuel cycle, and a glossary Kernfragen.de (Germany) - Nuclear Energy Basics for young people - with animations. Site only in German language. Kids’ Zone Atomic Energy of Canada - A colorful web site with lots of graphics and text on nuclear energy and electricity, plus games and a glossary of energy terms MIT OpenCourseWare: Highlights for High School - Provided free, open source teaching and learning materials to high school teachers and students. National Nuclear Data Center - The National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) of Brookhaven National Laboratory collects, evaluates, and disseminates nuclear physics data for basic nuclear research and for applied nuclear technologies. Their interactive Chart of Nuclides is an excellent resource tool for high school teachers and students. nuclearinfo.net (Australia) - Information about nuclear power by a group of physicists from the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne in Australia. The information level is appropriate for high school students. Nucleonica.net (European Commission) - A nuclear science web site developed at the Institute for Transuranium Elements (European Commission)for students and professionals. Provides web-based applications - dosimetry and shielding etc. Offers free educational resources (suitable for high school students. Partical Adventure - An interactive tour of quarks, neurotinos, antimatter, extra diminsions, dark matter, accelerators and partical detectors. Site is available in several languages, and is presented by the Particle Data Group of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. ¿Qué es la energía nuclear? (Argentina) - Educational section of the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) web site Available only in Spanish. RSC Electronic Databook (UK) - Web site aimed at secondary science students ages 11-16, and post-16 chemistry students and teachers. Databases that can be searched for a wide range of properties of elements and compounds, The site also includes important tools for physics such as emission line spectra and radioactive decay series. Schoolphysics.co.uk (UK) - This is a web site for both students and teachers of physics, whether studied as a single subject or as part of a combined science course. Sellafield Ltd. : Succeeding with Science (UK) - This web site is part of the Succeeding with Science education program supported by Sellafield Ltd (on behalf of the British Nuclear Decommissioning Authority). This site is primarily for teachers ("produced for teachers by teachers"). SFEN (France) - The web site of the Société Française d’Energie Nucléaire (the French nuclear energy society).
Available only in French. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) - is a DOE funded lab located in Virginia conducting basic research of the atom's nucleus at the quark level. The Science Education web site provides resources for students and educators: lesson plans, hands-on activities, worksheets, reference materials Games and puzzles are also available. Uranium Information Centre - Australian Uranium Association (Australia) Funded by a group of Australian uranium mining companies, the Uranium Information Centre. An excellent resource on a range of issues concerning nuclear energy.
Primarily suitable for high school students. U.S. Department of Energy - Presents basic information on the nuclear energy industry. Virtual Nuclear Tourist - Virtual tours of nuclear powerplants around the world. World Nuclear Association - Provides information on the environmental and human case for nuclear power and how it works. Also features an in-depth discussion on nuclear technology and the industry. |
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