Zach Mendoza 6/3/2013 2nd Hour

Nuclear Power
Nuclear power, also know as nuclear energy, is created by human supervised nuclear reaction. It starts with the extraction of uranium, which is a naturally occurring element inside the Earth. Uranium is radioactive and therefore is dangerous to handle and dispose of, but when put into a nuclear power system, it reacts with other elements in a fission reaction that splits the uranium nucleus. This reaction creates heat, which is used to produce heat and turn water into steam, that drives a turbine for a windmill and creates electricity. For a nuclear reactor to create energy there must be nuclear fission to take place first. Uranium is used for the fuel for the reaction, and therefore highly unstable and can not be broken down into smaller parts. The uranium atom absorbs a neutron and splits into two equal parts and energy is created. This kinetic energy turns into heat energy as the particles slow down, and it is this heat energy, which electricity is created. As the turbine turns the generator it creates electricity which is distributed to the consumer. The controversy of nuclear power is definitely up for debate around the world, especially in America. First and perhaps foremost, although nuclear plants are cheap to operate once they are up and running, they are by far the most expensive to build. The longer construction time and higher capital cost of a new nuclear plant currently more than offset its operating cost advantage. For one thing, there has been concern in the United States about the safety of commercial nuclear reactors, concern that predated the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, where the core of one of the reactors was damaged. The final challenge that usually goes along with nuclear power is the waste it produces. Some places store the waste right on site where people fear that the waste will exceed its limit.

Nuclear power has its both positive and negative aspects. The advantages of using this power is that it is an alternative to regular coal-based electricity production of nuclear power as it is much more efficient than coal. It is generally an electrical source that can be held reliable for many years to come in the future. The amount of waste that would be produced is equivalent to the size of your dining room table. The wastes is also stored in fire-, water-, and earthquakeproof capsules to ensure safety. The downside to using nuclear power is there is pollution in the form of radioactive waste but with new technologies the process is becoming cleaner and safer each year. The possibility of a radioactive leakage or plant meltdown. This is possible in theory and has happened in the past (Chernobyl in Russia) but nowadays there are procedures in place to ensure safety. There are problems and dangers, which could lead to accidents. The power stations are all manually run and human error could lead to possible accidents. Besides the possible advantages and disadvantages, either way the environment will be affected. The impact which is easiest to notice is the effect on the environment, particularly in terms of flora and fauna. The setting up of a nuclear plant requires a large area, preferably situated near a natural water body. This is usually accompanied with clearing of forests which disturbs the natural habitat of several creatures and gradually upsets the balance of the region. Apart from this, studies have shown that due to the heat rejected into the water bodies, there have been significant drops in the populations of several species of fish in certain regions of US. Another significant effect is the increased amount of sulfur dioxide in the air which causes acid rain to form which then leads to contamination of surface water bodies of the region, reduction of productivity of the soil, and has several other negative effects on the region's vegetation and human health.

In my opinion I believe that the use of nuclear power should be stopped completely. The use of nuclear power is definitely unstable in the matter of recent nuclear meltdowns. The Chernobyl meltdown in Russia is one solid reason why the use of this power should not continue. From that event, generations of people have been cursed with cancer, birth defects, and other health problems from the toxic waste. In addition, plant life is being destroyed from nearby reactors and eventually kills off the wildlife. Assessing the relative costs of new generating plants utilising different technologies is a complex matter and the results depend crucially on location. Coal is, and will probably remain, economically attractive in countries such as China, the USA and Australia with abundant and accessible domestic coal resources. Gas is also competitive for base-load power in many places, particularly using combined-cycle plants. Nuclear energy is, in many places, competitive with fossil fuels for electricity generation, despite relatively high capital costs and the need to improve all waste disposal and decommissioning costs. If the social, health and environmental costs of fossil fuels are also taken into account, the economics of nuclear power are outstanding. All things considered, nuclear power and its use is a toss up. In the long run nuclear power can be a helpful thing, but the risks now are too unpredictable. Unless we find a way to makes a more safe energy source our government should never tamper with it.