The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the process where the nucleus of an atom splits into two nuclei, by colliding with another particle or it can occur naturally, and releasing a great amount of energy. This energy can be harnessed and be put to good use, such as to generate electricity in a nuclear reactor. This energy can also harm people it can be used to create a nuclear bomb and can cause a huge catastrophe. Another problem with nuclear fission is the waste that it produces. These are the pros and cons of nuclear energy.

So we can harness the energy that is produced through the process of fission and generate electricity. All this is done in nuclear reactors. A core of Uranium is at the center of the reactor. Uranium, Uranium-235 is the preferred isotope, is used because it under goes fission naturally and at a slow rate. The energy that is emitted from the Uranium is then used to heat up water. The water then turns into steam and the steam pushes a turbine that spins a generator to produce electricity. That is the basics on how a nuclear reactor works. This method is better than traditional coal power plants because it emits minimal levels of carbon dioxide into the air. This process is also more reliable than other forms of alternative energy like solar panels or wind turbines. Because we can’t control the weather it won’t all always be sunny for a solar panel and it won’t always be windy for wind turbines. Nuclear reactors can lat from 40 to 60 years.

This sounds too good to be true and it is, because many things can go wrong and the result would be an environmental catastrophe. The most famous examples of a nuclear reactor meltdown are Chernobyl and in Japan. In 2011 a 9.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan and triggered a huge tsu...

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...da didn’t want the transportation of nuclear waste in their state.

We are exposed to small and non-lethal doses of radiation everyday. The type of radiation that is very lethal to humans and all other life is gamma radiation. This type of radiation, if you are exposed to it, alters the molecular structure of your DNA and can lead to mutations in your offspring and can lead to diseases like cancer. Alpha and Beta particles are usually deflected by your skin and they aren’t as harmful. Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation are types of ionizing radiation which means they can remove the electrons in the atoms of your cells, which can cause cells to mutate. Radiation is can be useful in our everyday lives. It is used in X-ray machines to look at the bones inside your body and a lead vest is put around you to protect you from the radiation so you are not fully exposed to it.