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The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Fission

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Nuclear energy is contained in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are very small particles that make up everything in this universe; therefore the bonding energy is very strong as we can see in the strength of objects we use on a daily basis. If done correctly, this energy can be harvested and used to generate electricity. There are two main ways to release this energy: Nuclear fusion and Nuclear Fission (National Nuclear Regulator, 2015)
Nuclear Fission is the splitting of a large atom into two or more, smaller ones and they do not naturally occur. Fission produces many highly radioactive particles and requires a critical mass of the substance and high-speed neutrons are required. The good thing is it takes little energy to split two atoms …show more content…

It works by creating a slower environment for neutrons to move so that they have more chance of actually hitting the nucleus of the uranium atom. This generates enormous amounts of heat which is able to power turbines and make electricity. “A fast breeder reactor uses a coolant that is not an efficient moderator, such as liquid sodium.”(Karam, Andrew 2006) Although this is not the best to cause fission, they are able to create plutonium which can then be reprocessed and used as more fuel or in the creation of weapons. Sometimes, these reactors are able to generate more power than they …show more content…

This can result in many job losses but at the same time could save people a lot more money on their power bills. People are also afraid of potential disaster like Chernobyl occurring in their country and that any errors with nuclear plants would eliminate all power from the country momentarily. Social unrest can also be caused by the economic changes created by the use and reliance upon nuclear energy. Those countries’ economies which are heavily dependent on their sales of oil could experience difficulties as there would be less demand for the product. Governments will have to be careful during decision making and look not only at what would be the best cost wise, but also for the people and

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