Nuclear

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**Energy Resource and Description:** >
 * The science behind nuclear energy involves getting the atomic nuclei of atoms to undergo changes and release energy.
 * Nuclear Power is produced when a nucleus absorbs a neutron and splits into two lighter nuclei. This releases enormous amounts of energy, which in turn produces heat. In fact the Uranium, which is the most common element used to produce nuclear power today, has an energy content about 3 million times greater than that of fossil fuel. Nuclear reactors harness the heat ,which is produced from the energy released when the atom splits and convert it into electrical energy.

**Science behind the energy resource:**
 *  Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom is called Nuclear Energy.



** Advantages :** There are some excellent pros in nuclear power. It is not always a dangerous resource and can be very valuable.
 * One pro is the cost. The process in itself is not very expensive and it costs about the same as obtaining energy from coal. Another positive thing about nuclear power is the fact that it does not produce smoke or carbon dioxide, so it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
 * Another thing that is good about it is how people are able to obtain immense amounts of energy using very little fuel.
 * The technology for it is already available, you don't need to develop it first.
 * It's possible to develop a great amount of energy in one single plant alone.
 * One last advantage to nuclear power is that it produces tiny amounts of its radioactive waste.

 **Disadvantages:** There are many advantages to Nuclear Energy, but there are many disadvantages as well. The disadvantages can change your outlook on using nuclear energy. These huge power plants are powered by uranium and by a process known as fission. Rather than burning fossil fuels like other power plants do, a nuclear power plant uses the fission process to split uranium atoms to create a powerful heat energy that boils water. The water used then turns into high -pressured steam that spins a turbine that powers a generator to create electricity. > **Cost to build:**
 * A disadvantage of this process is that the water becomes radioactive due to the fission process and that radiation can be very dangerous to all living things. The radioactive material takes thousands of years to lose its radiation, so storing and exposing this could be very harmful.
 * Harmful radiation has had down grading affects on people and animals that have included deformation, disease and even death. Cancer can also develop from radiation, but the more extreme affects require an enormous amount of radiation exposure.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Nuclear power has the potential to be very dangerous if the wrong people and organizations use it. When the fission process occurs inside of a nuclear plant, it is controlled and stabilized. Using the same process in an uncontrolled environment, a nuclear bomb is created and nuclear power can become a huge form of terrorism. Even in situations where the nuclear energy is stable, accidents may and can occur. A plant meltdown at the Chernobyl reactor caused a huge spread of radiation and danger to all of Europe. If meltdowns like this occur at bigger plants, then even more harm can be done to the world.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Nuclear waste is another disadvantage. It is stored deep within a cave or mountain, so it will be out of reach for all people. An example of a place nuclear waste is stored, is the large Yucca Mountain located in Nevada.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Nuclear energy is a non-renewable source of energy, so eventually our resources of uranium will eventually be tapped out. Exactly like fossil fuels, it is a huge concern, and a huge disadvantage.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cost to build and install a nuclear power plant can vary between 2 billion and 5 billion http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHomeCostOfNuclearPower
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This range of costs was from the year 1983; the cost could have fluctuated immensely or barely at all.

<span style="color: #019501; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Costs to operate:** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Nuclear energy really worth going through all the pain? Nuclear energy provides us energy without releasing any CO2 emissions. This is good for the environment but meltdowns occur and you also have to factor the large costs to provide nuclear power. In total nuclear power plants cost us around 77 cents/kw hour.

**Geographic Factors:** In nuclear energy there really are no geographic factors needed to create the energy. However to prevent nuclear failure it would be smart to think about fault lines or volcanic activity before building a nuclear center. For example: []

**Impact on the population:** Nuclear power produces many beneficial products and energy to the earth. Proponents of nuclear energy say that it is a very sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. They also say that it produces little air pollution, such as greenhouse gases and smog. Which differs from fossil fuel. On the other hand, opponents believe that nuclear energy is very dangerous for the environment. These threats include transporting and storing the nuclear radioactive waste. Nuclear warfare and human health risks due to the uranium mining are also something that scares people.

**Space Required:** For the one single nuclear power plant in Japan, it takes up 1,037 acres of land and uses a little over 8,000 megawatts.