...re-licensed Nuclear Power Plants as their licenses expire and move away from Nuclear Power as soon as possible”. Our class was divided into two sides based on our positions on the continuum. In our discussion, one of the arguments expressed from the agreeing side of the main statement was that Nuclear Power Plants are prime targets for terrorism. A few of those classmates mentioned how terrorists can take advantage of the powerful radioactive waste and create weaponry, or even attack the plant itself, to cause harm and conflict amongst the innocent residents in that area. This point is also mentioned in a short TEDTalks video. Another argument expressed from the agreeing...
Words: 830 - Pages: 4
...I am all for nuclear power plants because even though they cause some deaths, are actually not that harmful to the human race due to the Nuclear proliferation safeguards that have been in place since 1970 after Chernobyl, Fukushima, and Three Mile Island happened. The smoke that comes out of the cooling tubes is actually water vapor and it is helping the environment, by putting back oxygen in our environment. In a recent study regarding Nuclear power plants they actually showed that it is more helpful to the environment than anything other power source and also there are fewer deaths than anything as well, so it is virtually safer than your space heater that you may have in your house because you are more likely to die with that in your house...
Words: 255 - Pages: 2
...In a world where energy is desperately needed, nuclear power plants have risen up as a possible solution. However, there have been controversial discussions as to whether or not harnessing this energy is worth the incredibly high risk. This is further magnified by two devastations that have occurred in the past, both of which were the result of malfunctioning nuclear reactors. One was the Fukushima incident in Japan, a series of explosions in the aftershock of a natural disaster. The second was at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which released tons of radioactive materials and destroyed many lives. The power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, was the pride of the Soviet Union. One midnight test, on April 26, 1986, went terribly wrong under the control of junior scientists. Due to miscommunication, only six control rods were present in the core as the water supply was cut off, and the reactor became overheated. Soon enough, it exploded; the roof was blown off and a large fire ensued. In all, eight thousand people died from the explosion, both directly and indirectly. The rate of thyroid cancer in nearby areas increased by one hundred times. It didn't just affect Ukraine, either—ten days later, a toxic cloud from the reactor reached Japan and America. A...
Words: 478 - Pages: 2
...perpetual, even though energy is different from some form to a different or moved from one purpose to another; this can too be called the first law of thermodynamics. What this means is that since you cannot destroy energy but you can transform it into another form of energy. By using energy efficient appliances doesn’t mean you don’t use energy it just means that that energy is being converted into a different form of energy within your home. There are many forms of energy: Fossil Fuels, Nuclear Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Power, Water (hydro) Power, and Bioconversion (biofuel). Fossil Fuels: In 2007, “The U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA)” has determined that 86.4% of the main energy depletion that can be traced back to non-renewable sources. Pros: Well Developed: the reason fossil fuels is used is because it is the one that is well developed and has been used all around the world Cheap and Reliable: this is cheapest source of energy and the most reliable to use for the base-load. Cons: Contribute to Global Warming: this source of energy is not “green” and contains high amount of carbon Non-Renewable: Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source. What this means is that there is a limited quantity of fossil fuels that is offered and the energy are not replaced logically; and that fossil fuels are products of masses of years of the regular process like anaerobic breakdown of the carbon-based substance. As divergent to renewable energy foundations such as wind...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
...a room is not cleaned it will perpetually become more messy and unsystematic with time. The third law of thermodynamics would be that when a entropy reaches a constant value as it approaches zero. Fossil Fuel pros and cons, the pros of using fossil fuel is that we are able to develop new technology to harness energy from this natural source. Fossil fuel is cheap and there are no other things needed to gather energy from this fuel, it is considered being a reliable source of energy. Think about load-based needs, fossil fuel is more preferred then other sources of energy that are consider being unreliable. The cons of using fossil fuel are that it contributes to the worsening of global warming. Fossil fuel is not an environment-friendly source of energy even dough it is consider a natural source. It is the main contributors in global warming due to it releasing high amounts of carbon. Nuclear energy unlike fossil fuel does not release smoke in the atmosphere. It is ran off electricity by splitting atoms in a sequence of nuclear reactions, better known as nuclear fusion. The white plumes you see rising from cooling towers are non-more than steam; nuclear energy is considered to be carbon-free and produces more electricity unlike solar or wind. The con of using nuclear energy is that it can be used for weaponry, as in...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...about the use of different energy which include fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and bioconversion (biofuel) these laws could allow the possibility of tax incentives. The use of different types of natural energy can pave the way for a greener earth. Although, some may argue that there are pros and cons of such energy. In this paper we will be discussing these pros and cons as well as two provisions of the Energy Policy Act, 2005, including its tax incentives. 1.) The law of conservation of energy states that energy may neither be created nor destroyed (The law of conservation of energy, n.d). 2.) The pros and cons of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, and coal. The pros are its high efficient, cheaper than non-conventional forms of energy because it is easy to extract and process them and it the potential to power the entire globe. The cons are Fossil fuels are believed to be the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, responsible for global warming and climate change. It is also believed that coal mining creates earthquakes. The biggest con of all is that they are non-renewable. Nuclear Energy creates little amount of CO2 and it can generate a great amount of electrical energy in one single plant. But these plants produce radioactive waste; the energy source is uranium which there is limited supply. Also nuclear power plants could entice terrorist to attack. Solar energy is renewable source of energy, its...
Words: 676 - Pages: 3
...this pipeline goes through. The development of diseases related to air pollution are too much to risk on the US community. 3. Some people argue that nuclear power is our best answer to reduce the threat of climate change. List some pros and cons of this argument. (7 points) Pro: Nuclear power emits a relatively low amount of carbon dioxide. This means that nuclear power is not a huge contributor to global warming. The technology to produce nuclear power is readily available so the time and money for the technology is not an issue. A single nuclear power plant is capable of producing remarkable amounts of energy, a figure is hard to pair with production because the energy created from nuclear power plants has to do with how long they run at a specific capacity. Cons: Nuclear waste is still an unanswered question in terms of what to do with it. It is extremely dangerous to the environment and human population. It is also very hard to build a plant with 100% security. A breach in the plant would be a huge risk to the planet. A nuclear power plant could be a huge target for a terrorist attack. An attack at such a vulnerable facility would have catastrophic effects. Nuclear weapons being created as a byproduct also serve as a con. Although power plants create high amounts of energy, they take decades to build. Ultimately, nuclear power is not a sustainable resource for energy production and if we are looking at alternatives for energy, this is not a good option. ...
Words: 821 - Pages: 4
...Oil Alternatives Examine the changing importance of three energy alternatives to oil [20 Marks] 1200 words. Correct citations. Oil has been an important resource for humanity for centuries. It is easily accessible and efficient and over time has been extremely versatile in its uses. Today oil is used for fueling cars, cooking food, cosmetics, lubricants, paintings, organic chemistry, etc. For a long time oil has been the primary and main provider of energy, but due to increasing environmental effects, scarcity, and global inflation, it seems as if it will not last much longer. This essay will highlight the growing importance of three alternatives of oil that may rise to prominence in the future: algae biofuel, nuclear energy, and hydroelectric power. The first alternative that will be discussed is algae biofuel. In essence algae biofuels are the same as normal fuels except that the components of the fuel are organic and biological rather than fossil fuel based. Production is caused through a series of chemical reactions and is nontoxic and renewable. Algae sources can be re-replaced through more farming. The standard production method consists of planting lots of algae pods and letting them interact with the sun and bacteria to create oil. (Howstuffworks) Although this method releases a lot of CO2 it is all taken back again through growing more algae. This is of the many advantages of algae biofuel. Firstly its production yield far surpasses that of other variations...
Words: 1436 - Pages: 6
...from the sun can be changed in to useable energy for homes, schools, hospitals etc. The energy conservation law also applies to considering that some energy is wasted during the change, it’s impossible to change energy and not waste some of it. Cons and Pros of fossil fuel and oil, natural gas, and coal are pros consist of higher efficiency, it’s less expensive than none conventional reason being it’s easy to change and process them also has the ability to power the globe, the cons of fossil fuels are they have the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases which is mainly the reason for climate change and global warming. Coal mining creates quakes that’s also believed, they are none renewable so that makes it the biggest con. Nuclear Energy creates small amounts of oxygen and it generates huge amounts of electrical energy. Waste is radioactive when produced in these plants. Uranium is the energy source which has a limited supply; nuclear power plants could encourage terrorist attacks. This source of energy is renewable. Solar energy it provides energy to homes with solar panels and there’s no up keep required most of the energy is produced in the light because the panels become larger, these panels are very costly. Wind power is green and it has no pollution whatsoever, we can’t run out of wind so that makes it renewable and wind can’t be controlled however the disadvantage is the small noise. The energy that is most renewable is Hydroelectricity which is renewable energy...
Words: 480 - Pages: 2
...Thermodynamics and Types of Energy Rhonda Montgomery American Intercontinental University Abstract The energy act 2005 addresses issues having to do with energy usage covering fossil fuels, nuclear power and the efficiency of energy and includes two major provisions, tax incentives for the advanced energy saving technologies with the second provision being to set standards for the minimum efficiency with a set of smaller efficiency provisions. The laws of thermodynamics are the study of energy and the ability of energy to be able to do work. Physicists were involved with studying the flow of heat from machines and the chemical changes that accompanied the work, obtaining its maximum efficiency, a machine that has the ability to run off of its own heat. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy and matter cannot be created or destroyed with the second law stating that it is impossible to take away heat from a reservoir and positive work with the energy moving away from the source not being able to flow from cold to hot. In order to have a continual flow of heat there must be energy present. In order to have a continual flow of heat there must be energy present. The third law of thermodynamics states that all processes will stop when the temperature reaches an absolute zero and with this the molecules will then not move and as a result the production of energy will be stopped. Scientific...
Words: 1113 - Pages: 5
...of energy use include fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and bio-conversion (biofuel). There are both pros and cons in using these various forms of energy. Fossil fuels are a common source of energy used that are naturally occurring substances found on the surface of the earth. It is a non-renewable source of energy. One major advantage of fossil fuels is their availability. They can easily be found on the surface of the earth. However, depletion of this non-renewable source of energy is increasing because of the demands. Therefore, in the future there will a high demand and a low supply of fossil fuels (Energy.gov, n.d.). Nuclear energy is a controversial non-renewable source of energy. According to Maehlum, about twenty percent of the entire electricity generation is produced using nuclear energy. Generating electricity at a nuclear power plant is relatively low in costs as well as low in pollution. However, the nuclear waste is potentially harmful to both humans and the environment (Maehlum, 2013). Solar energy is a renewable energy source. As long as there is sunshine, solar energy will be available. Solar energy is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and readily available around the world (Maehlum, 2013). So, how can there be a con to solar energy? According to Maehlum, solar energy can be an intermittent source of energy, meaning it can be limited or unreliable. Wind power is a renewable source of energy that...
Words: 796 - Pages: 4
...major source for energy is decreasing and people are becoming more environmentally cautious, a new mean to supply energy are in high demand. Thus, nuclear energy seems to be the ideal alternative source of energy. Mel Schwartz (2011) mentioned that nuclear energy has generated approximately 17% of the world electricity for nearly 1 billion people (p. 706). In the Encyclopedia Britannica described that, “Nuclear energy, also called atomic energy, energy that is released in significant amounts in processes that affect atomic nuclei, the dense cores of atoms” (“Nuclear Energy”, 2013). The term nuclear energy includes nuclear fusion, nuclear fission and nuclear decay (radioactivity). Nuclear fission is the main method used in providing the nuclear energy as is provides the most energy compare to nuclear fusion and nuclear decay. In order to provide a large amount of energy, nuclear power plant is built. By using the heat energy gained from nuclear reaction, it drives the steam turbines which in turns generate the electricity. Nuclear power plant could be environment friendly as it emits low amount of carbon dioxide. The nuclear waste should not be overlook as it has a very long term impact to the environment. PHYSICS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY Nuclear energy can be formed either by nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or nuclear decay. Nuclear fission is the splitting apart of a heavy atom such as uranium into smaller atoms like xenon and caesium. Fission is triggered when an atom hit...
Words: 1393 - Pages: 6
...Energy: When I hear the words nuclear it gives me the impression that it is unsafe for humans and the environment. The nuclear power catastrophe of Japan is a good example why I believe that nuclear energy risks out way the benefits. “A major benefit of nuclear energy is that it releases massive amounts of energy through a process known as nuclear fission” (Turks, & Bensel 2011.) In an Internet article (time for change 2012) states the following risks of nuclear energy: The disadvantages of nuclear energy includes the following * Waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous * The consequences of an accident would be devastating to both humans and nature * Nuclear power plants could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks * Nuclear energy is Uranium, which is a scarce resource * Takes 20 to 30 years to build (in the United States) After the incident with Japan many would think that countries would shy away from using nuclear power plants as an energy source. But according to internet article (Modern power system 2012) World energy Council reports nuclear energy one year after Fukushima, that about 50 countries are operation building, or considering nuclear power as part of their energy mix and that 63 nuclear power are currently being built worldwide, including 26 in China, ten in Russia, and seven in India.” Wind energy: Wind energy is a lot safer the nuclear energy and better for the environment as it captures the energy...
Words: 487 - Pages: 2
...BIOL 101 Alternative Energy Solar and wind power 10/14/2012 [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] Abstract This paper will review solar and wind energy as the alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Solar and wind energy has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years due to both technological improvements resulting in cost reductions and government policies supportive of renewable energy development and utilization. Fossils fuels and nuclear energy have been the world’s main source of energy for years but, with global warming and with a recent melt down at a Japanese nuclear plant many are questioning is it time to use other alternatives energy sources. Although both alternative energy sources are safer than fossil fuels and nuclear energy the world has been reluctant to switch power sources. The recent severe energy crisis has forced the world to develop new and alternative methods of power generation, which could not be adopted so far due to various reasons. Solar energy represents our largest source of renewable energy supply. The Sun is naturally Earth’s most abundant energy source and will be around for billions of years. This is a resource that essentially human beings won’t be worried about running out of anytime soon. Wind Energy...
Words: 1443 - Pages: 6
...1: Mechanical energy: potential energy (object not moving) vs. kinetic energy (object moving) Chemical energy: stored in bonds between atoms in a molecule 2: Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons Nuclear energy: stored in the nuclei of atoms, it is released by either splitting/joining of atoms 3: Thermal energy: heat = internal energy in substances, the vibration and movement of atoms and molecules within substances Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons 4: Kilowatt hour (kWh) = 1,000 watt hours, unit of energy. Ex: Using a 60 watt light bulb for 1,000 hours consumes 60 kilowatt hours of electricity. 5: The major resources used for energy globally are oil. In the US they are petroleum, coal, and natural gas. 6: 3 fossil fuels -Coal: Produced by decomposition of ancient organic matter under high temperature and pressure (non-renewable) -Oil: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) -Natural Gas: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) 7: Net energy= the usable amount of high-quality energy available from a given quantity of energy resource. Ex: coal, oil, natural gas 8: Second law of thermodynamics- when energy is converted from one form to another, a less useful form 9: oil- used to manufacture paints, medicines, plastics and is used in cars...
Words: 994 - Pages: 4
