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nuclear power

Atoms are tiny building blocks that make up all matter in the Universe. Atoms may be tiny, but they hold an extraordinary amount of energy in their core, or nucleus. This energy can be released when atoms are split apart, producing nuclear power. Nuclear power plants split atoms of a certain kind of uranium to release huge amounts of heat. In turn, this heat drives a generator that produces electricity.

Stats

Definition: the energy released by splitting apart an atom
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: none (except during uranium mining and processing)
Cost: expensive (vs. other energy sources)
Location: more than 30 countries around the world; most new nuclear power plants are being built in China
Current Use: about 9% of the world's energy
Cool Fact: A single pellet of uranium can generate as much electricity as 150 gallons of oil!

Stumper

Nuclear reactors split apart atoms of a certain kind of uranium to release energy. This process is called:

fission

friction

fusion

Correct!

In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms. The opposite is fusion, in which atoms are combined to form larger atoms. Both processes release energy. Nuclear power plants use fission.

Stumper

Three infamous nuclear disasters happened in 2011 (Fukushima, in Japan), 1986 (Chernobyl, in Ukraine), and 1979 (Three Mile Island, in Pennsylvania). Today, nuclear reactors are:

just as dangerous

built only in remote areas

relatively safe

Correct!

Nuclear reactors today are more closely monitored and use safer technologies. However, reactors do produce dangerous radioactive waste that must be safely contained for thousands of years.

Fact or Fiction

Since uranium is a common metal found in rocks, nuclear plants have an unlimited amount of fuel.

Fact

Fiction

Uranium is a common metal, but nuclear reactors can use only a specific kind called uranium-235. It is quite rare and could one day run out.

Fact or Fiction

Nuclear reactors release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants.

Fact

Fiction

Nuclear reactors don't release any carbon dioxide or other air pollutant. But mining and processing uranium do cause pollution.

Image credits: main image, courtesy of Stefan Kühn.

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Correct!

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