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Nuclear Energy
I - Radioactivity
A. Definitions
Radioactivity
emission of high-energy radiation
from the nucleus of an atom
Nuclide
nucleus of an isotope
Transmutation
process of changing one element into
another via nuclear decay
B. Types of Radiation
Alpha ()
4 2+
helium nucleus 2 He paper
Beta-minus (-)
0 1- lead
electron -1 e
Gamma ()
high-energy photon
0 concrete
C. Nuclear Decay
Why nuclides decay…
to obtain a stable
ratio of neutrons to
protons
39 Stable
19 K
40 Unstable
19 K (radioactive)
C. Nuclear Decay
TRANSMUTATION
Alpha Emission
238
92 U Th He
234
90
4
2
Beta Emission
131
53 I 131
54 Xe e
0
-1
D. Half-life
Half-life (t½)
time it takes for half of the nuclides in
a sample to decay
Nuclear Decay
20
Example Half-lives 18
16
12
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Nuclear Energy
II - Nuclear Reactions
A. Fission
1
0 n 235
92 U 141
56 Ba Kr 3 n
92
36
1
0
A. Fission
chain reaction - self-feeding reaction
B. Fusion
combining of two nuclei to form one
nucleus of larger mass
produces even more
energy than fission
occurs naturally in
stars
CHAPTER 24
Nuclear Energy
III - Applications
A. Nuclear Power
Fission Reactors Cooling Tower
A. Nuclear Power
Fission Reactors
A. Nuclear Power
Fusion Reactors (not yet sustainable)
A. Nuclear Power
Fusion Reactors (not yet sustainable)
National Spherical
Torus Experiment
Princeton University
A. Nuclear Power
F
F
I
U
S vs. S
S
I
I
O
O
N
N