nuclear war
Nuclear energy is the energy stored within the nucleus of an atom. This energy can be released and used to generate electricity. It’s released through a process called nuclear fission or fusion. Nuclear energy can be used to create electricity, but it must first be released from the atom. Rutherford is the father of nuclear energy. The most common method used in nuclear power plants is nuclear fission, where heavy atoms like uranium are split into smaller ones, releasing a tremendous amount of heat. This heat is then used to generate steam, which turns turbines connected to electrical generators, producing electricity.
Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear reactions cause changes in the nucleus of atoms which in turn leads to changes in the atom itself. Nuclear reactions convert one element into a completely different element. Suppose if a nucleus interacts with any other particles and then separates without altering the characteristics of other nuclei then the process is called as nuclear scattering rather than specifying it as a nuclear reaction.
Nuclear Reaction types
- Inelastic scattering: This process takes place when a transfer of energy occurs. It occurs above threshold energy. i.e. Et = ((A+1)/A)* ε1, where Et is called as the inelastic threshold energy and ε1 is the energy of the first excited state.
- Elastic Scattering: It occurs when there is energy transfer between a particle and intends nuclei. It is the most vital process for slowing down neutrons. In the case of an elastic scattering total kinetic energy of any system is conserved.
- Transfer Reactions: The absorption of a particle followed by discharge of 1 or 2 particles is referred as a transfer reactions.
- Capture Reactions: When nuclei capture neutral or charged particles followed by discharge of Gamma rays, it is termed as capture reactions. Radioactive nuclides are produced by neutron capture reactions.
Nuclear Fission
Heavier nuclear can break into two or more lighter nuclei of equal mass. The process may take place spontaneously in some cases or may be induced by the excitation of the nucleus with a variety of particles such as neutrons, protons, deuterons, alpha particles or electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma rays. In the fission process a large quantity of energy is released, radioactive products are formed, and several neutrons are emitted. These neutrons can induce fission in a nearby nucleus of fissionable material and release more neutrons that can repeat the sequence, causing a chain reaction in which many nuclei undergo fission, and an enormous amount of energy is released. If controlled in a nuclear reactor such a chain reaction can provide power for society’s benefit. If uncontrolled, as in the case of the so-called atomic bomb it can lead to an explosion of destructive force.
Atom Bomb
It is one of the examples of nuclear fission. An atomic bomb, also known as a nuclear bomb, utilizes nuclear fission to release massive amounts of energy, resulting in a powerful explosion. The core principle behind its destructive power is the uncontrolled chain reaction of nuclear fission within a fissile material like uranium or plutonium This reaction involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, releasing vast energy and additional neutrons, which in turn trigger further fission events, creating a chain reaction.
Structure of atom bomb
An atom bomb consists of a piece of fissile material whose mass is sub-critical. This piece has a cylindrical void. It has a cylindrical fissile material which can fit into this void and its mass is also subcritical. When the bomb must be exploded, this cylinder is injected into the void using a conventional explosive. Now, the two pieces of fissile material join to form the supercritical mass, which leads to an explosion. During the explosion tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat, light and radiation is released. A region of very high temperature and pressure is formed in a fraction of a second along with the emission of hazardous radiation like gamma rays, which adversely affect the living creatures. An atom bomb were exploded in 1945 at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the World War II.
Nuclear Fusion
Two or more lighter nuclei can form heavier nuclei and release a large amount of energy. This reaction is the source of energy in stars, including our sun, and is the opposite of nuclear fission, where a heavy nucleus splits into lighter ones. While fusion releases significantly more energy than fission, it requires extreme temperatures and pressures to overcome the repulsive forces between positively charged nuclei.
Hydrogen Bomb
It is one of the examples of nuclear fusion. When two light nuclei fuse for a bigger nucleus and in the process release a large amount of energy. In a hydrogen bomb, two isotopes of hydrogen i.e., deuterium and tritium fuse to give a helium and a neutron. This fusion releases 17.6 MeV of energy. Hydrogen bombs cause a bigger explosion than an atomic bomb.
The shock waves, blast, heat and radiation are more widespread making it 1000 times more dangerous in comparison to an atomic bomb. The range of destruction of a hydrogen bomb is 5 to 10 miles. It is aided by nuclear fusion and it becomes an Uncontrolled chain reaction. In nuclear fusion, the difference in masses between the products and the reactants is considered to contribute to the energy release. This difference in mass is known as mass defect.
A few years ago, it was considered that nuclear fusion is only possible in the stars. This is because it is difficult to channel or control such high energy release during the process. At sufficiently high temperatures, matter can undergo fusion due to collisions with extreme thermal kinetic energies. Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a method focused at releasing high magnitudes of energy by heating and compressing a fuel target. The fuel used is a pellet of tritium and deuterium.
Nuclear Food: Uranium (U-235)
Uranium is the fuel most widely used to produce nuclear energy. That’s because uranium atoms split apart relatively easily. Uranium is also a very common element, found in rocks all over the world. However, the specific type of uranium used to produce nuclear energy, called U-235, is rare. U-235 makes up less than one percentage of the uranium in the world.
Although some of the uranium the United States uses is mined in this country, most is imported. The U.S. gets uranium from Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. Once uranium is mined, it must be extracted from other minerals. A typical nuclear reactor uses about 200 tons of uranium every year. Complex processes allow some uranium and plutonium to be re-enriched or recycled.
Futures of Nuclear energy
Nuclear reactors use fission, or the splitting of atoms, to produce energy. Nuclear energy can also be produced through fusion or joining atoms together. The sun is constantly undergoing nuclear fusion as hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium. Because all life on our planet depends on the sun, you could say that nuclear fusion makes life on Earth possible. Nuclear power plants do not have the capability to safely and reliably produce energy from nuclear fusion. It’s not clear whether the process be an option for producing electricity. Nuclear engineers are researching nuclear fusion, however, because the process will likely be safe and cost-effective.
By: Archanaa P
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