Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions, hence the name "nuclear reactors", that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which is then used in steam turbines to produce energy in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear energy makes up for about 10% of the energy generated in the United States, right behind renewable energy and coal.
In 1932. physicist Ernest Rutherford discovered that when lithium atoms were "split" by protons by a proton accelerator, massive amounts of energy were produced. He along with Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein believed that they could harness the power of the atoms for practical use sometime soon, but more research had to be done.
That same year, James Chadwick discovered the neutron, which was immediately recognized for its potential to be used in nuclear energy generation because of its lack of an electrical charge. After this discovery, things happened quickly. The first nuclear reactor was constructed in Chicago and was part of the development of the Manhattan Project, the race to create nuclear weapons.
Unfortunately, nuclear reactors are dangerous. They are highly unstable and even in the best of conditions require an entire team to run. Disasters like Chernobyl, as referenced in other posts, serve as a grim reminder of what can go wrong if nuclear reactors are not properly maintained.
Fun Facts:
- The Chicago Pile-1, the first reactor, was built under Stagg Stadium and produced weapon-grade plutonium.
- At one point in history, people believed that there would be anything from nuclear-powered space shuttles to plutonium-powered swimming pools.
- Nuclear electricity for general consumption was generated on December 20th, 1951.
The Chicago Pile 1:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be respectful. Think to yourself, "Would I say this to a child?"