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The present use of uranium 235 will probably be able to continue another 50 years or so, depending on how many reactors are built worldwide. There are other possibilities including breeding fissile fuel from uranium 238 or thorium. Then fusion may also become feasible, and there is plenty of fuel for that available.

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What is the process in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus?

The process in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus is called nuclear fusion. This process releases a large amount of energy, such as in the sun where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium. Fusion is the opposite of nuclear fission, which is the splitting of a larger nucleus into two smaller nuclei.


Should you still use nuclear power?

Nuclear power is very good source of energy to turn to. The only problem is the storage of nuclear waste, that is left over after the nuclear reaction the power plant. The energy obtained from the nuclear power plant is very clean burning and more KJ/mole energy.


Which of the 10 forms of energy does electrical energy use?

I wouldn't say that electrical energy "uses" other types of energy; probably you mean that you can convert other types of energy to electrical energy. Most types of energy can be converted to electrical energy, or actually all of them (as long as there is some useful energy left) - including heat energy, nuclear energy, chemical energy, mechanical energy, etc.


Is an environmental consequence of nuclear energy?

The ultimate result is the pollution of the environment. Any nuclear accidents leave the area unusable for centuries. When the nuclear reactor melted down in Russia in the 80's it left the entire area radioactive. People can no longer live there and any plants and animals are affected by the radiation that still exists.


How does nuclear energy process heat?

To answer your question we first have to dive into what 'heat' is. Heat is "the average random molecular kinetic energy of an object". All that really means is heat is caused by the movement of molecules in an object. The 'faster' they are moving, the more heat there is.In the nuclear fission process, heat is produced when a fissionable material (like Uranium) is split apart. This results in numerous byproducts. Including, fission fragments (the 2 or 3 elements left over from the split uranium atom. Normally these are Krypton and Barium), gamma radiation, beta radiation (beta radiation is just high energy electrons), fast neutrons, and neutrinos (there are others, including things like alpha radiation from the decay of radioactive material but you get the point). All of these things have a large amount of energy from the fission process and they 'speed off' through the core. As they 'fly around' they transfer energy to their neighboring particles. This is especially true for the fission fragments who have a relatively large mass and a high charge. This transfer of energy is what causes the 'heat'. The nearby particles are being 'pushed' around and therefore their 'average random kinetic energy' goes up.Hope this helps.

Related Questions

How much energy is left for the last consumer?

The amount of energy left for the last consumer depends on various factors, including the efficiency of the energy production and distribution systems, losses during transmission, and the energy demands of previous consumers in the supply chain. Typically, energy losses can occur at multiple points, meaning that by the time energy reaches the last consumer, only a fraction of the original energy generated is available. To determine the exact amount, one would need specific data on the energy source, transmission losses, and consumption rates.


Advantages of atomic energy?

It is the only sustainable energy that we have. There are only two valid sources of any energy, fossil fuels and nuclear. With less then a 1000 years of oil left, we know fossil fuels will end. Nuclear is also much cleaner. Those that do not understand climate and CO2 also worry about CO2 emissions. The only fuel that produces zero CO2 is nuclear.Most countries have determined that nuclear is a valid source of power. France brags about how green they are. This is because they are over 90% nuclear.


What processes a molecule splits releasing neutrons and energy?

In nuclear fission it is the nucleus of the atom that splits, not a molecule, and this releases neutrons and energy. Reactions at the molecule level are termed chemical reactions, not nuclear, and these chemical reactions involve whole atoms and molecules.


What is the energy produced when an atom is split apart?

Energy is neither created nor destroyed. It is simply converted from one form to another. In nuclear fission (the splitting of atoms) the nucleus is split into two or more parts. The binding energy that represented the parent nucleus is now split into three or more parts - the binding energy that represents the two new nucleuses - and the residual binding energy that is left over. The residual energy is often represented as heat and radiation.


Traffic left justified junctional last when should you signal?

Left-Turn Signals: Where left-turning traffic is especially heavy and/or the amount of.


What is net production?

net production is the amount of energy left that is in the next trophic level


What effect does this movement have on the ionization energy (the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom)?

As you move across a period in the periodic table from left to right, ionization energy generally increases. This is due to the increasing nuclear charge, which attracts electrons more strongly, making them harder to remove. Conversely, as you move down a group, ionization energy decreases because the outer electrons are farther from the nucleus and are shielded by inner electrons, reducing the effective nuclear charge felt by those outer electrons.


How was nuclear energy found?

The first evidence of nuclear energy was found in the late 1800s when a scientist found that sealed photographic plates that he had left in his desk drawer with some rocks were fogged when developed. This effect (of the rocks on the plates) was called radioactivity. It took many experiments to find ways to get this energy on demand.


Why can't poodles be left on their own?

Poodles can't be left on their own, because they have a large amount of energy, which means they need a lot of exercise.


What is the process in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus?

The process in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus is called nuclear fusion. This process releases a large amount of energy, such as in the sun where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium. Fusion is the opposite of nuclear fission, which is the splitting of a larger nucleus into two smaller nuclei.


What is the bad in nuclear energy?

Mostly the long lived radioactivity left in the spent fuel, but also any leakage from a damaged plant as at Fukushima.


Should you still use nuclear power?

Nuclear power is very good source of energy to turn to. The only problem is the storage of nuclear waste, that is left over after the nuclear reaction the power plant. The energy obtained from the nuclear power plant is very clean burning and more KJ/mole energy.