Enviro Unit 9 Lesson 5: Nuclear Power

Select the advantage(s) of nuclear power

-low carbon dioxide emissions

Select the disadvantages of nuclear power.

-nuclear waste -low efficiency -risk of accidents -contamination risk

How do nuclear reactors keep nuclear chain reactions from getting explosive?

Control rods are placed between the fuel rods. The control rods absorb the neutrons and slow down the chain reaction.

Why are some environmentalists saying that more nuclear power plants need to be built?

Some climate scientists claim that nuclear power is the only way to drastically reduce greenhouse emissions with current technology.

Is nuclear power renewable or nonrenewable?

nonrenewable

nuclear waste

the radioactive material that is left over from the process of generating electricity

nuclear fission

a reaction where an atom's nucleus is split apart to form smaller nuclei

nuclear fusion

a reaction where two atoms join together to make a new atom

nuclear reactor

a structure where electricity is made through controlled nuclear fission chain reactions

What is the net energy ratio of nuclear power?

8-16