Nuclear Energy in Todays Worl essays

Nuclear Energy in Todays Worl essays Nuclear Energy in Todays World In todays world there is a constant need for energy. Almost everything in the modern world requires energy, and to meet these demanding energy requirements, advancements are being made at an astonishing rate. There are many types of energy sources, such as fossil fuels, hydroelectric dams, facilities and wind generators, but the most debatable source of energy in the modern world is the use of nuclear power. Nuclear energy has been the topic of many heated debates and while it has numerous advantages, it also comes with a long list of disadvantages. The human race as a whole has asked this question many times. What would the world be like with or without nuclear energy? To obtain energy from nuclear reactions is a very complicated process. This process is called fission. When the nuclei of certain isotopes are bombarded with neutrons, they undergo fission, which is the splitting of a nucleus into smaller fragments. Fission unleashes enormous amounts of energy through a chain reaction process. The energy generated in the fission of one kilogram of Uranium-235 is the equivalent to twenty thousand tones of dynamite exploding. To control this process a nuclear reactor is required. There are five basic components to a nuclear. These are the fuel (usually Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239), moderators (slows down the neutrons so the reactor fuel can continue the chain reaction), control rods (decreases the number of slow neutrons to stop the chain reaction from going to fast), coolant (prevents the reactor core from overheating), and the shielding (which protects humans and the environment from the effects of nuclear fission). When a nuclear reactor is fully operational large amounts of energy can be acquired from little amounts of fuel. Nuclear energy has many advantages. Compared to coal and hydroelectric dams, nuclear power is the safest and cleanest way, from an environmental standpoint, to ...