All the gadgets and appliances we use require a specific amount of electrical energy. This means that plenty of countries rely on nuclear energy to efficiently create electrical energy at a high rate.
Nuclear energy is a type of kinetic energy that is generated through the release of the potential or stored energy from the breakdown of atoms, which is called fission. Nuclear power plants produce nuclear energy to generate and provide electricity in a specific area.
Nuclear energy utilizes Einstein’s famous formula of E= MC2 formula. But it is a bit modified when it is used for nuclear energy coming in the form of E=(ΔM)C2, where E is the energy generated through the fission (J), ΔM is the change of mass in the nucleus (AMU), and C2 is the speed of light (this will be a constant 299,792,458 m/s).
Begin by writing down the formula used in nuclear energy which is E=(ΔM)C2 on a piece of paper or digital note-taking software. Doing this will help you visualize the overall form and outlineof the equation.
Check if all the given numbers are using the correct unit of measurement needed in the formula. You do this to ensure that you will get the most accurate result possible when using the equation.
Get the summation of all the masses of the product and all the masses of the reactant. After obtaining both summations we will subtract both of them to obtain the change in mass to act as the ΔM or the mass defect.
Substitute all the necessary things into the formula and solve the equation with the given numbers. Ensure that your answer uses the correct unit of measurement of energy the question asks; if it isn’t the correct one, you must convert the answer as necessary.
Nuclear energy is not a renewable type of energy source as it relies on a commodity called uranium, to fuel nuclear energy plants. This means that if the supply or stock of uranium is low or has dwindled then we cannot sustainably generate nuclear energy. But this does not mean that nuclear energy is not a clean type of energy. Nuclear energy generates little to no carbon emissions, which ensures the quality of the air around the nuclear plant is clean and stable. All of this indicates that nuclear energy is a clean source of energy but it is not a renewable source of energy, unlike solar energy (see radiation).
Nuclear energy presents itself with a host of advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages or pros of nuclear energy is that it is one of the most efficient generators of electricity, as it produces two times as much energy as coal-powered power plants. Not only that but a nuclear energy plant boosts the economy of the country it is situated in as it provides citizens with plenty of jobs. Lastly, the costs and leftover fuel of nuclear energy plants can be recycled and repurposed to provide more electrical energy, whilst lowering the overall cost of the power plant. But this is juxtaposed with the disadvantages or cons of nuclear energy, which requires a specific team of highly educated workers to head the nuclear energy power plant and is more dangerous.
Nuclear energy generates the most amount of electrical energy that can be stored in power grids. This is because of the high amount of capacity power of 92%, capacity power refers to the plant being able to provide the maximum amount of power. While solar energy only operates at 24.9% capacity power, which is a very large and stark difference between nuclear energy and solar energy. Both nuclear and solar power plants produce clean energy that will not interfere with the environment and the air around the building. One of the major differences between nuclear energy and solar energy is that solar energy is endlessly renewable in specific intervals while nuclear energy requires a specific type of fuel to operate.
Nuclear energy is a type of kinetic energy that the fission of atoms creates through the use of a specific specialized machine. Though it is the most space-efficient and energy-efficient method of generating energy, nuclear power plants still present a larger type of risk as the chemical reaction is very volatile.
