We call Nuclear Energy the energy which is created in a nuclear reaction, which represent the changes that nay occur in the structure of the nuclei of the atoms.
Nuclear Energy can be produced both naturally and artificially within specialized plants, under human control:
- Naturally nuclear energy takes place mostly in space. For example, the Sun heats the Earth by nuclear reactions;
- Artificial nuclear energy is produced under the strictly supervision of humans, in specialized nuclear power plants, in specialized machines, which are called nuclear reactors. Any human negligence may occur within the process, the explosion can be catastrophic.
Nuclear energy can be produced in 2 different ways:
- Nuclear Fission: nuclei of atoms are split, causing energy to be released. Uranium is the main fuel used for nuclear fission to produce energy since it has many favorable properties. Uranium nuclei can be easily split by shooting neutrons at them. Also, once a uranium nucleus is split, multiple neutrons are released which are used to split other uranium nuclei. This phenomenon is known as a chain reaction. Fission releases energy that can be used to make steam, which is used in a turbine to generate electricity.
- Nuclear Fusion: nuclei of atoms are joined together and usually this happens only under very hot conditions. The atomic bomb, the humanity’s most powerful and destructive weapon, also works by fusion.
Despite of the dangerous field, Nuclear energy is mostly used to produce energy. This is a huge realization, due to the fact that Earth has limited supplies of coal and oil, which is the most common way to obtain energy. Also, nuclear energy is less pollute than Coal burning plants. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 19% of the United States’ electricity is produced through nuclear energy.
One of the disadvantages of using nuclear energy is that following chemical reactions, radioactive waste is left behind. Every 18 to 24 months, nuclear power plants must shut down to remove and replace the “spent” uranium fuel. This spent fuel has released most of its energy as a result of the fission process and has become radioactive waste. Used in the wrong ways, the radioactive waste can be dangerous for environment and can pollute it.