Benefits and Dangers of nuclear energy

Essay by nicholas_131Junior High, 9th gradeA+, May 2004

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Introduction:

The topic I have chosen to research from the given topics was:

a) The benefits and dangers of atomic energy

I chose to research this topic because my dad has worked in the electrical industry, and I was sure that he was going to be a valuable resource to me for this project and topic.

About the Topic:

Nuclear Energy, energy released during the splitting or fusing of atomic nuclei. The energy of any system, whether physical, chemical, or nuclear, is manifested by the system's ability to do work or to release heat or radiation. The total energy in a system is always conserved, but it can be transferred to another system or changed in form.

Atomic energy is made in a nuclear power plant like the diagram and photos below:

Atomic Energy is made using uranium, plutonium, and many other elements, which are not easy to work with and mine.

Advantages (Benefits) of atomic energy:

The Benefits of Atomic Energy are most visible when comparing a nuclear Power station to a coal powered power station.

Nuclear power plants provide about 17 percent of the world's electricity. Some countries depend more on nuclear power for electricity than others. There are more than 400 nuclear power plants around the world, with more than 100 in the United States. As yet in Australia we have no Nuclear power plants but a HIFAR reactor in Sydney, which is used to radiate large crystals of pure silicon.

Well-constructed nuclear power plants have a huge advantage when it comes to electrical power production. Nuclear power plants are extremely clean.

Compared with a coal-fired power plant, nuclear power plants are dreams come true from an environmental standpoint.

A coal-fired power plant actually releases more radio activities into the atmosphere than a properly functioning nuclear power...