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Nuclear power is a non-renewable resource How could that change?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
It depends what you mean by "renewable". Radioactive materials do not "grow" the way trees grow. There are naturally-occurring radioactive elements. Elements can also be made radioactive by various means that involve atomic collisions, and this may occur in nature or as a result of human direction.
It is true that the majority of the fuel used in a reactor eventually becomes "spent". That is, it gets to a point where it stops producing useful power. It is still, however, radioactive. Spent nuclear fuel can be recycled and reused in some cases, depending on the isotope and the form of the fuel. We will probably become more successful in recycling spent fuel as our technology advances.
There is no reason to suppose that nuclear fuel could not be effectively infinite, particularly as compared to resources like petroleum and coal. The amount of nuclear fuel require to produce an equivalent amount of electricity to other energy sources is a very small fraction. It is extremely efficient in terms of energy yield per kilogram of raw material.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How could nuclear fission be used indirectly?
in nuclear fusion bombs
What does the term nuclear reaction refer to?
The term nuclear reaction is a general one, and it refers to any change in atomic nuclei. There are a lot of different ones (nuclear changes) that qualify, so let's look at some. A nuclear reaction could be a nuclear decay event where a single atomic nucleus undergoes a change. Alpha decay, beta decay, spontaneous fission and even gamma emission are nuclear reactions. Additionally, a nuclear reaction could refer to the interaction of a subatomic particle and an atomic nucleus, like neutron capture in nuclear chain reactions. Further, nuclear fusion, which is constantly going on in our sun, is also considered a nuclear reaction because lighter atomic nuclei are fused together to make heavier ones. As there are a number of "flavors" of nuclear reactions, we leave a reader a variety of options to choose from when we apply this term. It may help to be more specific, depending on the way this term is used.
What quantities do not change during a nuclear reaction?
If you consider the equation, E=mc2, you can see that an amount of mass can be considered as equal to an amount of energy. In other words, we could take all the mass in a nuclear reaction and figure out how much energy that represents. If you add that to the amount of energy present at the same time, you get a summation of energy (some of which is mass represented as energy). That amount of energy does not change in a nuclear reaction.
How could a resource become limited?
Although we think of some resources as renewable, resources are always finite and limited.A resource that we think of as renewable could become one that we think of as non-renewable or limited if a tragedy happened. For instance, beef is a renewable resource, because more cattle are born every year. But if a disease wiped out almost all cows worldwide, then the species would be endangered, and the idea and cost of having beef at a meal would change completely... we would start seeing that resource as a limited resource rather than the infinite supply that we sometimes imagine now.A supply could also become sharply limited if it is overused, or our technology isn't good enough to gain access to something, even if it still exists somewhere.
What is the difference between nuclear decay and nuclear transformation reactions?
nuclear decay rates take more time and chemical reaction rates could happen fast.
Are the materials that make a soccer ball be renewable or a nonrenewable resource?
I think it is nonrenewable. But i could be wrong
How could nuclear energy which is normally classified as nonrenewable be reclassified as an inexhaustible?
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How could nuclear energy which is normally classified as nonrenewable be reclassified as inexhaustible?
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Is concrete a non-renewable resource?
I don't think that concrete itself is a nonrenewable resource, but some materials in it might be. For example, the limestone in the cement (the material that makes the concrete solid) could be considered a nonrenewable resource because it takes so long for it to regenerate.
How could nuclear energy which is classified as a nonrenewable energy resource be reclassified as an inexhaustible energy resource?
Nuclear energy is a non-renewable source since there is a very tiny amount of Uranium-235, whose fission results in nuclear energy. If a more abundant element could be used in nuclear reactors, such as, say, nitrogen or oxygen, it would effectively become inexhaustible. However, current technology does not allow for this since these atoms are too small to be accurately and repetitively bombarded (which is a key part of the fission process).
Is water renewable resource or nonrenewable resource?
Water is a renewable resource. You possibly could be drinking water your dog drank 10 years ago. Wow if you think about it a tyrannosaurus rex could have even taken a sip out of your water millions of years ago. 0:
Is coal a nonrenewable resorce?
Coal is considered a nonrenewable resource, even though global supplies could increase (but only if we waited millions of years and did not use any more of the amount Earth contains now).
Is Uranium a renewable resource?
No, uranium is a non-renewable resource. When we have used it all up, there is none left. A renewable resource is something like sunlight, which we can use to generate electricity, and even if we use it all today, it still comes back just as strong tomorrow.Uranium is a nonrenewable resource.
Is fusion a nonrenewable energy resource?
Theoretically it is non-renewable. In practical terms it is almost inexhaustible. IF we could fuse hydrogen isotopes economically
What could cause a renewable natural resources to become a nonrenewable resources?
Trees are a natural renewable resource, but if we don't grow (and nourish to maturity) more trees to replace them, they then become a non-renewable resource.
Is concrete is renewable non renewable?
I don't think that concrete itself is a nonrenewable resource, but some materials in it might be. For example, the limestone in the cement (the material that makes the concrete solid) could be considered a nonrenewable resource because it takes so long for it to regenerate.
Is coal a nonrenewable resource?
Yes, coal is a NONrenewable energy source. It is running out rapdily, which is why we are trying to find alternative renewable ways to create energy, such as recycling and energy turbines.
