Nuclear Energy Video Lecture | Physics for Class 10

What is Nuclear Energy and how does it work?
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution,
the demand for energy has increased dramatically
year after year.
Today, the majority of this demand is met
with the combustion of fossil fuels.
With the recent disaster at Fukushima as well
as the ever-present effects of the events
at Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island, nuclear
power has lost some of the enthusiasm that
once surrounded it.
Because of the rising costs and harmful effects
on the environment caused by fossil fuels,
people are looking for ways to replace our
dependence upon them.
While renewables such as hydroelectric, solar,
and wind energy have proven to be worthy replacements,
they are still a ways off from meeting our
needs.
Nuclear, on the other hand, has all of the
technology required to be used on a large
scale.
In the U.S., Nuclear accounts for 21% of the
electricity produced whereas coal contributes
41%, natural gas 24%, renewables 12%, and
petroleum only 1%.
Despite the current level of adoption, there
is still a great deal of misconception and
fear surrounding nuclear energy.-
Now, let's see how most nuclear power plants
actually work.
First, you have the fuel, usually Uranium,
which must be mined, enriched, and then formed
into pellets that are placed in rods within
the reactor.
The atoms of Uranium undergo a controlled
chain reaction which emits heat.
Pressurized water around the reactor vessel
is heated and circulated through pipes in
a steam generator, which produces water vapor
that spins a turbine attached to a generator.
After leaving the turbine, the steam is condensed
so that the cycle can continue.
The benefits of using nuclear fuels are numerous.
The lack of carbon emissions, the ability
to create huge amounts of energy, and the
reliability of power production are all extremely
important.
As there are no fossil fuels used in the consumption
of Uranium, direct carbon emissions are nonexistent
and indirect emissions are limited to the
construction of the facility and obtainment
of fuel.
Unlike many renewable methods, nuclear plants
do not depend on the conditions around them
to function, which would make them perfect
for the constant base load of the electrical
system.
The main concerns surrounding nuclear energy
are safety, waste management, and total expense.
Contrary to popular belief, nuclear is among
the safest sources of energy that is currently
in use.
Despite the seemingly huge impact reported
by the media, there have been no deaths as
a direct result of the meltdowns at either
Fukushima or Three Mile Island.
Even in the case of Chernobyl, the total number
of expected deaths is quite low.
In comparison, deaths due to the use of coal
are over 10,000 per year in the U.S. alone.
However, deaths are not the only impact which
an accident can have.
They can force people out of their homes and
change the land around them for a very long
time.
For the treatment of waste, there are two
main options that are currently employed;
containment and reprocessing.
Containment is the placement of exhausted
fuel into safe containers where it will remain
for a very long time.
The second, more expensive method, reprocessing,
treats the waste so that it can be used within
a reactor again.
Nonetheless, reprocessing is not currently
practiced in the U.S. due to a lack of facilities
necessary.
Furthermore, costs come mainly from the building
and regulation of plants.
These high initial costs can be mitigated
by focusing on uprating current plants instead
of building many new ones.
Finally, technologies are being developed
which can further decrease these disadvantages.
So then, how can nuclear play into our energy
future?
Combined with renewable sources, nuclear allows
us to enjoy our energy needs without the impact
on our environment that is coupled with fossil
fuels.