Nuclear Energy
Uploaded by Jd-Lodzy22 on Apr 04, 2008
Nuclear Energy is produced when atoms split and they produce large amounts of energy. This energy is released in heat form. As atom fragments collide with each other they split again and produce more heat. A nuclear power plant uses the heat energy produced by the split atom to conduct heat. Nuclear energy is created through steam turbines the generate electricity.
Nuclear energy benefits in large areas but can produce the worst of things to not just happen to the workers but to the whole city or nation.
Advantages for Australia
Australia currently receives eighty percent of its electricity by fossil fuels such as coal. With nuclear energy, carbon emissions could drop making global warming less of an issue. Nuclear energy is the best known source of energy that does not harm the environment. Nuclear energy doesn’t pollute the air with no production of carbon dioxide or any sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides.
Nuclear materials can be used for other sources than just energy. Medical diagnosis and therapy can use nuclear energy to carry out medical procedures. In addition nuclear materials can also be used to kill bacteria, insects and parasites from food. Is could help in Australia’s Agriculture.
Nuclear material can also benefit in different areas such as Industry, Space Exploration and Scientific research.
Disadvantages for Australia
Nuclear power plant remain dangerous, safety is said to be a myth. Nuclear still remains as the most dangerous form of energy. Another Chernobyl accident is possible at anytime to any power plant worldwide. Even after twenty years of the incident people locally are still suffering from health issues. During normal procedures, radioactive materials are continually discharged into air and water.
A solution should be devised before nuclear energy is introduced in Australia. How will the radioactive waste be disposed of? Most highly radioactive waste is spent in isolation for up to hundreds and thousands of years. Areas affected by high radioactivity are dangerous and affect many people in cancer and birth defects. There is not a single disposal option of radioactive waste worldwide. Most common radioactive waste in foreign countries is buried underground.
Money is a major issue in the production of nuclear power plants in Australia. The cost to establish a power plant is coming out if the normal tax payer’s pocket. Interest rates would rise to continue the production of the power plant. People could become homeless without the money to pay the...