Nuclear
Nuclear
Background information and initial pro/cons:
1. From the article ”Alternative Energy Sources” from the U*X*L Encyclopedia of Science accessed on Gale Student Resources In Context on the CY Library homepage:
Nuclear power is an alternative energy source that can be obtained from either the splitting of the nuclei of atoms (nuclear fission) or the combining of the nuclei of atoms (nuclear fusion). In either of these two reactions, great amounts of energy are released. Nuclear power plants use a device called a nuclear reactor in which uranium or plutonium atoms are split in controlled fission reactions. The heat energy released is captured and used to generate electricity. As of 2007, there were 104 operating nuclear power plants in the United States. France relies on nuclear power for more than 70 percent of its electricity production.
Controlled nuclear fusion is believed by many scientists to be the ultimate solution to the world’s energy problems. The energy released in fusion reactions is many times greater than that released in fission reactions. To date, however, the technology has not been developed to make use of this source of energy.
Although nuclear power is a clean, cheap, and relatively safe means of providing energy, public concern over safety issues has brought the construction of new nuclear power plants to a virtual halt in the United States. The nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979 and at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in 1986 (in which a large amount of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere) prompted fears of similar disasters occurring elsewhere. In addition, there is the problem of storing radioactive nuclear waste safely so that it does not pose a threat to humans or the environment.
2. Go to the overview article “nuclear energy” from the Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection on the CY Library homepage (password: oslis)
3. Search for nuclear energy on World Book Online on the CY Library homepage: http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar268980&st=hydrogen
This article is long; use the Table of Contents to access the parts of the article that you need.
4. Watch this video about nuclear energy from Learn360:
http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=351453
Viewpoint Articles/Video
Two articles from Nuclear Power (2013), accessed on Opposing Viewpoints on the CY Library homepage:
Nuclear Power Is a Viable Source of Renewable Energy (password: oslis)
The Steady Decline of the Nuclear Industry Demonstrates That Nuclear Power Is Not a Viable Alternative Energy Source (password: oslis)
Watch this video from the PBS Newshour (2010): Reactor Plan Renews Debate on Nuclear Energy