Nuclear Fission
posted 4/2/23 by Leo Rosin
The pursuit of a more efficient and cleaner energy source is something that humans have been trying to achieve since the Industrial Revolution. We started by using fossil fuels and they have continued to be used into the present day. The problem with fossil fuels is that they are the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to global warming. That is why humans have tried to pursue clearer sources of energy such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Unfortunately all of these alternatives have limits and are sometimes not as efficient as fossil fuels; that is where the nuclear energy comes in. Nuclear fission and the experimental nuclear fusion both provide more energy that other clean alternatives and fossil fuels. But, what are the differences between the two? And what are the benefits and drawbacks?
Well, nuclear fission is the more common and well known of the two nuclear energies. It is most commonly known for the extremely dangerous radiation and nuclear meltdowns. Two examples of nuclear meltdowns are Chernobyl and Fukushima. For Cherynobyl, the meltdown was caused by a failed experiment causing a power surge. The initial day of the crisis 32 people died and there are an estimated 70,000 people who died of radiation poisoning. Fukushima occurred when a massive undersea earthquake, the worst ever recorded in Japan, struck the power plant. The government evacuated everyone out of the contaminated areas and no deaths have been directly connected to the meltdown yet.
Despite how complicated nuclear energy sounds, it is actually not very different from a coal power plant. Coal power plants heat water into pressurized steam which powers a turbine generator. The main difference between coal and nuclear power plants is how the water is heated up. In the coal power plant, coal is used to heat the water, while in a nuclear power plant the heat comes from the nuclear reaction.
But, how does a nuclear reaction happen? When one atom is split into two separate atoms, energy is released. This reaction is called nuclear fission, which is a natural process that happens every day. An easier element to use is Uranium, which “constantly undergoes spontaneous fission at a very slow rate. This is why the element emits radiation, and why it's a natural choice for the induced fission that nuclear power plants require.” (Nuclear Fission: The Heart of the Reactor) Nuclear fission splits the atoms uranium-235 which is also the atom used in the nuclear bomb. When the atom splits, it releases a ton of energy in total and 200 million electron volts for each atom in the pound of uranium. One of the main problems with fission is that it releases a lot of gamma and beta radiation which can be dangerous. Because of the radiation it produces it could cause a nuclear meltdown if problems arise. But, the benefits could outweigh the risks. A nuclear power plant produces more energy than any other type of energy production operable at this point and it is also a clean energy source, not releasing any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Nuclear Fission is a good alternative to fossil fuels releasing a lot of usable energy. But, the potential drawbacks cause many countries to shy away from using it because of the potential danger to their citizens. In the next blog post I will discuss how nuclear fusion works and later on I will compare and contrast the two.