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Questions and Answers
What term is used to describe the energy that holds together the nucleus of an atom?
Which process involves the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into two or more parts?
What happens in nuclear fusion?
Which type of atoms can give off nuclear energy without fission or fusion taking place?
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In the context of nuclear energy, what is the role of neutrons in the process of nuclear fission?
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What was the result of countries working to build a weapon that used nuclear energy during World War II?
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How did the United States impact the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945?
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What does the nuclear fission in nuclear power plants primarily produce?
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What harmful effect did the radioactive waste from nuclear fission in power plants have?
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Which event involving a power plant caused harm through leaking radioactive gases into the air?
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Study Notes
What is Nuclear Energy?
- Nuclear energy is the energy that holds together the nucleus of an atom, also known as atomic energy.
- Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter, and the nucleus is the central part of an atom.
How Nuclear Energy is Released
- Nuclear energy can be released through two processes: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.
- Nuclear fission occurs when the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more parts.
- Nuclear fusion occurs when two nuclei join to form a single nucleus.
- Radioactive atoms can give off nuclear energy without fission or fusion taking place.
Nuclear Fusion
- Nuclear fusion happens naturally in stars, such as the Sun, where atoms are constantly combining and creating nuclear energy.
- This energy is the source of the heat and light that Earth gets from the Sun.
Nuclear Fission
- Nuclear fission releases a lot of energy, for example, the fission of 1 pound of uranium produces as much energy as burning 3,000 tons of coal.
- Scientists discovered that they could make nuclear fission happen in certain kinds of atoms, such as uranium, by bombarding it with neutrons.
Nuclear Weapons
- During World War II, countries worked to build a weapon that used nuclear energy, resulting in the nuclear, or atomic, bomb.
- The first nuclear bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, killing more than 70,000 people instantly.
- Later, scientists discovered how to use nuclear fusion to make an even more powerful bomb, the hydrogen bomb.
Nuclear Power Plants
- Nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, such as generating electricity in nuclear power plants.
- Nuclear fission in nuclear power plants produces radioactive waste, which gives off radiation that can be harmful.
- Nuclear power plants are designed to be safe, but accidents have happened, such as the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and the Fukushima accident in 2011.
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Description
Learn about the fundamental concepts of nuclear energy, including nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, and the release of radiation. Explore how nuclear energy is harnessed and its various applications in generating power.
