Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. This book will take the readers into the world of innovative research and development of. Any presentation about nuclear always has some reference to radiation and how radiation can affect living things, like us. Threepercent enrichment is sufficient for nuclear power plants, but weaponsgrade uranium is composed of at least 90 percent u235.
We are at almost half a million deaths and counting in syria alone. Starting with a little background on how nuclear power works and then delving into the process from mining to electricity production, her position on nuclear power is changed as she learns about the safety of nuclear power. Containing everything from energythemed games to teacher lesson plans. The most pressing problems concerning nuclear energy are the possibility of an accident or systems. Over the years, reactors have been viewed as both a miracle and a menace. This energy is the binding energy of the nucleus, the glue that keeps the nucleus of the atom together. One of the steps towards establishing a new nuclear power programme or in planning the expansion of an existing nuclear power plant npp fleet is to commission a feasibility study. Apr 30, 2008 without nuclear power stations, uks carbon emissions would be 5% to 12% higher than they are.
Nuclear power is a clean energy source that produces electricity without emitting any of the pollutants associated with fossil fuels, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Without nuclear power stations, uks carbon emissions would be 5% to 12% higher than they are. An aerial photograph view of the hinkley point b nuclear powerstation on aug. They are nonfiction books which relate to uranium mining, nuclear weapons andor nuclear power. From economics to the environment, we will talk about allthings nuclear. Nuclear power is an efficient and volatile method of creating electricity using controlled nuclear fission, or, less commonly, nuclear fusion. In 2011 frahm released the awardwinning and controversial childrens picture book nuclear power. Bringing together a systematic explanation of hadrons, nuclei, and stars for the first time in one volume, carlos a. Scientific american book club selectionthe world of science education in america would be an altogether different one if its textbooks were as readable as james mahaffeys latest on nuclear technology.
The danger posed by nuclear power goes far beyond the catastrophic accidents that have occurred at. At the heart of a nuclear reactor lies a chamber that is submerged in large tank of water. The definitive, dramatic untold story of the chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, based on. Nuclear power what is it, advantages and disadvanages. The cost to construct a nuclear power plant is now double what was calculated by mit in 2003. After two or more decades of construction of nuclear power stations, this ceased in many countries, largely as a result of concerns for the. Radiating particles in some cases, the nuclear force is not able to. The book opens by setting nuclear physics in the context of elementary particle physics and then shows how simple models can provide an understanding of the properties of nuclei, both in their ground states and excited states, and also of the nature of nuclear reactions. List of books about nuclear issues simple english wikipedia. Bertulani provides the core material needed by graduate and advanced undergraduate students of physics to acquire a solid. The iaea nuclear energy series complements the iaea safety standards series. From wellloved classics to warnings from the past few years, we hope that this selection sheds some light on the need to prevent the spread and further use of nuclear weapons. Another argument in favor of nuclear power is the united states uranium abundance. Extraparliamentary dissent in france and germany 1981.
Nuclear power, electricity generated by power plants that derive their heat from fission in a nuclear reactor. To get a free audiobook and support our channel, go to nutshell thanks. Download nuclear physics in a nutshell in pdf and epub formats for free. May 08, 2017 our ability to mine great amounts of energy from uranium nuclei has led some to bill nuclear power as a plentiful, utopian source of electricity. Jun 30, 2018 any presentation about nuclear always has some reference to radiation and how radiation can affect living things, like us. Nuclear power in a nutshell this is your brain on awesome. In the wake of the fukushima disaster in 2011, japan shut down all its nuclear reactors, though a few have restarted since last year. Nuclear physics in a nutshell provides a clear, concise, and uptodate overview of the atomic nucleus and the theories that seek to explain it. Pages in category books about nuclear issues the following 57 pages are in this category, out of 57 total. What are the best books and articles to read about nuclear. The environmental implications of generating electric power from nuclear fission have been a matter of concern since the construction of the earliest nuclear reactors and power stations in the 1950s. Because nuclear powers true costs are lower than either fossil fuels or renewables.
They contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through a physical process called. Reactor containment building a whole lot of fissioning was going on. Ive been collecting radiation and nuclearthemed books for a few years, but ive read almost. Global nuclear electricity production has grown from under 100 terawatthours one terawatthour can power 100,000 homes for one year in the early 1970s to over 2000 twh in recent years.
Sep 29, 2012 nuclear technology definition nuclear particles. One mans walk through the nuclear age 1999 the atom besieged. In 1957, the worlds first nuclear power accident occurred at windscale in west cumbria. The cost to construct a nuclear power plant is most of the cost of nuclear power, not the cost of uranium and maintenance. This book covers various topics, from thermalhydraulic analysis to the safety analysis of nuclear power plant. At the nukie nuclear power plant, inside the nuclear reactor that sat beneath the big dome, a. Atomic awakening offers an essential look at nuclear power and how it will overcome its negative connotations to shape our century. Germany also moved to phase out nuclear power by 2022. With more nuclear power plants, this dependence would ultimately disappear, and the u.
On one hand, atomic energy offers a clean energy alternative that frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. In these processes a small amount of mass is converted to energy according to the relationship e mc 2, where e is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light see relativity. To some, nuclear energy offers a clean energy alternative that frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. The energy of a nuclear bomb comes from inside the nucleus of the atom. It does not focus only on current power plant issues. An overview of nuclear power plants, the dangers of. Nuclear power in a nutshell with all of the media coverage going on right now about the disaster in japan, perhaps a bit of explanation is in order. The tightness of welds on gas or oil pipelines can also be verified by the application of gamma radiography, a nuclear technique that is not so different from xrays. Nuclear in a nutshell how nuclear powers your life. They are recent nonfiction books which relate to uranium mining, nuclear weapons andor nuclear power atomic obsession. The pro and anti nuclear lobbies fight furiously, and its difficult to decide who is right. They are nonfiction books which relate to uranium mining, nuclear weapons andor nuclear power american prometheus.
Instead, it aims to address the challenging ideas that can be implemented in and used for the development of future nuclear power plants. The truth about nuclear energy by gwyneth cravens, voices from chernobyl. Is nuclear power vital to hitting co2 emissions targets. Inside this book, you will find a bit of history about nuclear power that began in 1954 when the atomic energy act of 1954 112 th congress, 2 nd session became a law. Nuclear physics in a nutshell is the definitive new resource for anyone considering a career in this dynamic field. The 11 books on my summer nuclear reading list nuclearkatie.
Weve compiled a diverse list of some of the best books about nuclear weapons. Re the right lessons from chernobyl editorial, may 2. Section four discusses the costs of building a nuclear power plant and the economic competitiveness of nuclear power compared with. Most power plants burn fuel to produce electricity, but not nuclear power plants. Because nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they do not. Inside this chamber are a number of uranium cores, if you will.
Nuclear energy is one of the most popular texts ever published on basic nuclear physics, systems, and applications of nuclear energy. Inside a nuclear power plant in order to turn nuclear fission into electrical energy, nuclear power plant. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Well head inside the power plant and investigate the reactor next. In tom clancys book the hunt for red october, a russian submarine has a nuclear reactor accident with radiation leakage that forces the crew to abandon. Simply put, i adore this book, as well as author amelia frahm, and have something of an emotional stake in its success. Except for the reactor, a nuclear power plant is similar to a large coalfired power plant, with pumps, valves, steam generators, turbines, electric generators, condensers, and associated equipment. Jan 10, 2017 nuclear in a nutshell is a video series detailing the many benefits of nuclear power generation. How nuclear power works union of concerned scientists. List of books and articles about nuclear energy online.
The risks of nuclear power are far exceeded by the actuality of fatalities from political instability due to global warming. The book is a creative spin on the how a nuclear plant works schematic found in science text books. Fission takes place inside the reactor of a nuclear power plant. The writers of pulpmagazine science fiction found themselves in an ambivalent position after the explosion over hiroshima of the first atomic bomb. Apr 23, 2007 nuclear physics in a nutshell provides a clear, concise, and uptodate overview of the atomic nucleus and the theories that seek to explain it.
After two or more decades of construction of nuclear power stations, this ceased in many countries, largely as a result of concerns for the environment and human health. Instead, nuclear plants use the heat given off during fission as fuel. Highly recommended to gain insight into the industry and learn about the safety of nuclear power. Most nuclear power plants create energy by submerging uranium molecules in water and then inducing fission in the molecules. Nucleons radioactivity natural and artificialtransmutation types of radiations nuclear reactions nuclear fission nuclear fusion nuclear reactors nuclear projects like iter, lhc, fair, ino. Outlining nuclear energys discovery and applications throughout history, mahaffeys brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twentyfirst century. Kids korner creates a rich kidfriendly environment to facilitate in energy education. Dec 31, 2016 the risks of nuclear power are far exceeded by the actuality of fatalities from political instability due to global warming.
It was designed to pique the curiosity of the nonscientific. Presented is a comprehensive overview of radioactivity, radiation protection, nuclear. This process heats the water, which is transformed into pressurized steam that turns a. Opinion debating the merits of nuclear power the new. Another important application of nuclear techniques is the fine measurement of industrial products, such as paper thickness. Jun 15, 2017 one of the manhattan projects many legacies is the development of peaceful nuclear reactors. Section four discusses the costs of building a nuclear power plant and the economic competitiveness of nuclear power compared with other sources of generation. Nuclear in a nutshell is a video series detailing the many benefits of nuclear power generation. A famous faculty of medicine does not need to be told that there are good uses of nuclear energy. Essentially, nuclear reactors work in the exact same way as certain other engines weve been using for hundreds of years.
Pdf nuclear physics in a nutshell download full pdf. Furthermore, the new systems must be inherently safe and environmentally benign. Science fiction and nuclear power in the posthiroshima period. This generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. It is fully aware that radioactivity was discovered a hundred years ago and has been used for human benefit, not least in the medical field, for half a century. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Thats why confusingly youll sometimes read in books that. Due to increasing population and living standards, each year the world requires more energy and new efficient systems for delivering it. Nuclear reactors work in a similar way to other power plants, but instead of using coal or gas to generate heat, they use nuclear fission reactions. Introduction to how nuclear power works the nuclear power plant stands on the border between humanitys greatest hopes and its deepest fears for the future. In practice, nuclear power plants dont work by obliterating atoms completely. How nuclear energy works, explained in a nutshell with images.
At a basic level, nuclear power is the practice of splitting atoms to boil water, turn turbines, and generate electricity. The world of the twenty first century is an energy consuming society. This scholarly text explores the political, business, construction, and environmental elements surrounding nuclear power plant safety and regulation within the united states. Nuclear physics in a nutshell book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. In summary, the spirit and substance of modern nuclear physics, in a nutshell indeed. May 22, 2014 nuclear power is a clean energy source that produces electricity without emitting any of the pollutants associated with fossil fuels, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Because nuclear power can lead the clean energy revolution. Nuclear power plants use a very small amount of fuel. Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant. Released in the aftermath of the fukushima nuclear crisis, both the book and frahm received harsh criticism from antinuclear advocates due to the books titletopic. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium.
105 1279 1519 410 453 1323 298 1176 1238 1363 829 389 492 326 861 986 535 959 97 531 101 1458 141 1255 506 1169 586 1120 1094 644