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Nuclear Energy. Chapter 12 Section 3. Standard. S 6.6.a Students know the utility of energy sources is determined by factors that are involved in converting these sources to useful forms and the consequences of the conversation process
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Nuclear Energy Chapter 12 Section 3
Standard • S 6.6.a Students know the utility of energy sources is determined by factors that are involved in converting these sources to useful forms and the consequences of the conversation process • S 6.6b Students know different natural energy and material resources and how to classify them as renewable and non-renewable
Language of the Discipline • Nucleus • Nuclear fission • Reactor vessel • Fuel rod • Control rod • Meltdown • Nuclear fusion
Anticipatory Set • Line up 15 dominoes to form a triangle • Knock over the first one • What happened? • Set it up again and remove the 3rd line • Knock them over • What happened now?
Nuclear Fission • Central core of an atom that contains a proton and neutron is a nucleus • Nuclear reactions convert matter into energy • E=mc2 • E is energy • M represents mass • C is the speed of light
Nuclear Fission • The splitting of an atom’s nucleus into 2 smaller nuclei • When the neutron hits the U-235 nucleus, the nucleus splits apart into 2 smaller nuclei and 2 or more neutrons • If any neutrons strikes another nucleus, the fission reaction is repeated • More neutrons and more energy are released • Becomes a chain reaction (like the dominoes)
Nuclear Fission • If a nuclear chain reaction is not controlled, it creates a huge explosion. • Atomic bomb • A few kilograms of matter explode with more force that thousands tons of dynamite • If it is controlled, it can be used to generate electricity • Read Summary on page 494-495
Nuclear Power Plants • Heat released from fission is used to change water into steam. The steam then turns the blades of a turbine to generate electricity. • Uranium fuel is used to power these plants • Nonrenewable resources • Reactor vessel: where nuclear fission occurs • Fuel Rods: holds pellets of uranium • Control Rods: inserted between fuel rods to slow the speed of chain reactions.
Pros and Cons • Safety concern • Meltdowns of fuel rods • Caused a series of explosions • Radioactive materials in environment • Don’t pollute the air • Help solve the problem of global warming • Read summary on page 496-497
Quest to Control Fusion • 2 hydrogen nuclei combine to create a helium nucleus, which has slightly less mass than 2 hydrogen nuclei. The lost mass is converted to large amounts of energy. • Nuclear Fusion: combining of 2 atomic nuclei to produce a single larger nucleus • Sun produces energy • Water is a source of its fuel • Renewable resource • Only happens at extremely high pressure and temperature • Read Summary on page 498
Checking of Understanding • What happens in a nuclear chain reaction? • What is the purpose of a control rod? • What is nuclear fission?
Guided PracticeIndependent Practice • Worksheet/workbook • Stop! Have your answers checked by teacher! • Study Guide problems