Nuclear Definition and 997 Threads

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in some space probes such as Voyager 2. Generating electricity from fusion power remains the focus of international research.
Civilian nuclear power supplied 2,586 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2019, equivalent to about 10% of global electricity generation, and was the second-largest low-carbon power source after hydroelectricity. As of January 2021, there are 442 civilian fission reactors in the world, with a combined electrical capacity of 392 gigawatt (GW). There are also 53 nuclear power reactors under construction and 98 reactors planned, with a combined capacity of 60 GW and 103 GW, respectively. The United States has the largest fleet of nuclear reactors, generating over 800 TWh zero-emissions electricity per year with an average capacity factor of 92%. Most reactors under construction are generation III reactors in Asia.
Nuclear power has one of the lowest levels of fatalities per unit of energy generated compared to other energy sources. Coal, petroleum, natural gas and hydroelectricity each have caused more fatalities per unit of energy due to air pollution and accidents. Since its commercialization in the 1970s, nuclear power has prevented about 1.84 million air pollution-related deaths and the emission of about 64 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent that would have otherwise resulted from the burning of fossil fuels.
Accidents in nuclear power plants include the Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union in 1986, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, and the more contained Three Mile Island accident in the United States in 1979.
There is a debate about nuclear power. Proponents, such as the World Nuclear Association and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy, contend that nuclear power is a safe, sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. Nuclear power opponents, such as Greenpeace and NIRS, contend that nuclear power poses many threats to people and the environment.

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  1. X

    Current Nuclear Engineer Regulations/Debates

    I am looking for reliable and scholarly sources (books, articles, websites, videos, etc) on the following topics: 1. Current (post-Fukushima incident) debates about whether or not a moratorium should exist (in the U.S.) 2. What new regulation are being proposed for the most current debates...
  2. M

    The implications and issues behind high-level nuclear waste management

    Hello, This topic is an open discussion around the technical, ethical and legal implications and issues behind high-level nuclear waste management. I am a designer working on a project aimed at exploring the future of nuclear waste, by proposing alternative ways of dealing with the issue. For...
  3. V

    Nuclear winter, would it happen?

    Models suggest that the ash and fumes caused by cities set on fire by nuclear war would cause a nuclear winter. Are these models still valid, or do more refined models suggest that such a scenario would not occour, or that even a limited nuclear war would cause an extended nuclear winter...
  4. M

    What knowledge do I need to go into nuclear physics?

    Hello all. I was just wondering what kind of things I would need to know if I wanted to become a nuclear physicist? I'll be honest, I've never been very strong in any math or science. Almost every teacher I've had in math or science has pretty much crushed what little confidence I had in both...
  5. X

    Joint Major (with Nuclear Engineering)

    Hello everyone, I am a high school senior. I got accepted to UC Berkeley, and will be attending the school this coming fall. I want to pursue nuclear engineering in college. Since UC Berkeley offers joint major programs, I would like to pursue a joint major (nuclear + another engineering...
  6. M

    Nuclear Reactions, Can anyone check my solution?

    Homework Statement A nuclear power station reactor using 235 U (Uranium) as fuel has an output of 107 W. How much uranium is consumed per hour if the overall efficiency is 10%. The 235 U decays by the following reaction: n + 235 U → 144 Nd + 89 Y + (3)(n) + (7)(e-)Homework Equations P = E /...
  7. M

    Nuclear Reactors, Atom Smashers, and Particle Accelerators

    What would be the difficulty of building each? I have read of Michio Kaku building an atom smasher (albeit it ruined the power flow to his house,) I have found a 200,000 volt generator so I presume that a particle accelerator would be possible, and my friend is currently working on a nuclear...
  8. C

    New and upcoming ideas in nuclear engineering?

    For example, what potential do interactions like pair production have in harnessing the idea of converting photons to mass have in the future of nuclear engineering? Or what about quantum tunneling as the basis of fusion/fission? is it getting cold in here, yet? What are the new ideas out...
  9. S

    MHB Uncovering the Mysteries of Nuclear Physics: A Practice Test and Worksheet

    I would really appreciate if someone could assist me with these questions: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q2wg088b6ictn7f/Worksheet_Nuc_Science_2013_Edited_Cut.docx?m :)
  10. Astronuc

    Nuclear Systems Volume I by Neil E. Todreas, Mujid Kazimi

    Author: Neil E. Todreas, Mujid Kazimi Title: Nuclear Systems Volume I: Thermal Hydraulic Fundamentals, Second Edition Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439808872/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Prerequisities: Junior (3rd year uni) level courses in Nuclear Engineering, Mechcanical Engineering...
  11. xpell

    Fallout yield from a nuclear accident at sea?

    I was reading about the nuclear accidents in early Soviet submarines and got a couple of questions, hope this is the appropiate forum to ask them. :smile: Let's assume that a submarine suffers both a hull and reactor vessel rupture (for example, as a result of an attack in wartime) while at...
  12. A

    Questions about nuclear physics inside a star

    Hi! I am currently interested in working on a simulator that emulates the creation of a star in c++. Basically, I'm thinking of generating a large number of particles (protons) fairly close to each other and apply gravitational and electro-magnetic force to them, and then see what happens. It...
  13. E

    Questions about Nuclear Fusion in the Sun

    This excerpt is from "The Universe and the Atom" by Don Lichtenburg: I was under the impression that photons made in the nuclear fusion bounced off of particles for a long time, before they inexplicably were able to escape from the sun. Why does the sun absorb the most energetic photons...
  14. C

    BS in Applied Physics/Masters in Nuclear Engineering?

    I'm a sophomore applied physics major at Columbia Engineering, and have recently thought about going into nuclear engineering as a career. I'm extremely interested in physics and am pretty sure that it's a pretty hot industry since many people working in nuclear engineering are entering...
  15. A

    Lie groups & Lie Algebras in Nuclear & Particle Physics

    Hi, I'm a student of Nuclear Engineering (MS level) at University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I completed my Honours and Master Degree with Mathematics. I have chosen to complete a thesis paper on "Application of Lie groups & Lie Algebras in Nuclear & Particle Physics." I need some guideline...
  16. jaumzaum

    Energy dissipated by a nuclear fission

    In a nuclear fission of the uranium for example, the uranium atom can be subdivided in Kr and Ba + 2 neutrons + energy dissipated. This energy comes from the mass defect of the uranium in relation to Kr+Ba+2 neutrons. Is this energy full released in the form of photons? Is this energy full used...
  17. D

    When did nuclear fusion in the sun really start ?

    - possible sun timeline - 3,130,000 years for molecular gas to condense into protostar - 40,000,000 for core to condense and heat up to 15 million K - 43,130,000 total - sun has only enough matter to 'burn' by gravitational pressure for 100/300 million yrs - first stage of...
  18. A

    Are fusion power plants feasible for widespread use?

    Nuclear power plant which use of fission process have been made but why not fusion power plants, what affect its feasibility ??
  19. M

    Explaining "Low Lying States" of 210^Bi in Nuclear Physics

    I have a question that states: "Consider the shell model predictions for the ground state and low lying excited states of 210 Bi (see below for sidenote). This is just a definition issue really. I don't know what a 'low lying' state is. I can't find that term used in my text at all. Can someone...
  20. M

    Why is the strong Nuclear force the strongest?

    And the electromagnetic force stronger than gravity? That is what is written everywhere about the fundamental forces. It is simply because we don't generally see or observe matter (if at all such matter exists) having a mass to charge ratio high enough to make the magnitude of...
  21. M

    Can we determine the NK nuclear detonation strength?

    News reports have it at 4.9 magnitude and a depth of 1 kilometer The USGS appears to have it at 5.1 and the depth is not currently known accurately. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc000f5t0.php#details...
  22. V

    Can We Create Elements Higher Than Helium in a Terrestrial Fusion Reactor?

    If we tried to make elements higher than Helium in a terrestrial fusion reactor, what elements could we realistically make? If I've understood it correctly the triple alpha process reaction rates would be irrelevant due to the considerably lower pressure * time product. But how would Be...
  23. N

    Please help me in choosing a nuclear project related to electronics

    Hello all, I am currently pursuing my MSc in Nuclear engineering. My background is in BSc Electrical/electronics engineering therefore I am inclined to go for some project related to nuclear engineering having roots in electrical/electronics/control engineering. It would be great if...
  24. Crazymechanic

    Nuclear reactor neutron absorber

    Hi could you please explain me what happens with the atomic structure and overall material structure of neutron absorber rods used in fission reactors? As I imagine when they are used they absorb the neutrons that keep the chain reaction going so to stop the chain reaction hence shut the...
  25. S

    Nuclear Binding Energy: Exploring the Basics

    Hey, I'm having a hard time trying to understand what nuclear binding energy really means. In most of the introductory texts I have, they say some of the mass of the nucleus appears as binding energy (mass defect). According to the definition, shouldn't it just be the work done by strong...
  26. C

    Trying to understand causes and effects of nuclear reactions and radioactivity

    I have been reading a lot about nuclear plants and how when things go wrong the whole area becomes inhabitable. I have been trying to understand certain things but i am not sure. I hope my understanding of it are not filled with self-inflicted misconceptions. 1) Uranium crystals found in nature...
  27. K

    Are there any nuclear power plants on oceanic coastlines like Fukashima?

    Are there any nuclear power plants on oceanic coastlines like Fukashima Daiichi which are vulnerable to being damaged by powerful tsunamis and earthquakes? Do any of these coastal plants exist in the United States?
  28. P

    Schools Physics BSc to Nuclear Engineering for Grad School

    How difficult would this be? I'm planning on taking all of the related classes for my upper-division electives (Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, etc) but I want to make sure that this is possible before I completely commit to it. Also, for those who are in / done with grad school: is it...
  29. Astronuc

    Nuclear Introductory Nuclear Physics by Kenneth S. Krane

    Author: Kenneth S. Krane Title: Introductory Nuclear Physics Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/047180553X/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Prerequisities: It is expected that students have some experience with quantum mechanics/physics. A course in Modern Physics and a mathematical background...
  30. H

    Nuclear Binding Energy (wikipedia is confusing)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy What is nuclear binding energy ? Here are two possible answers according to the Wikipedia page : 1.Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its component parts. 2.Nuclei are made up of protons and...
  31. K

    Unpacking Nuclear Fission: Understanding Binding Energy

    During nuclear fission a heavy nucleus of low binding energy splits into two middle mass nuclei with high binding energy ! From where does this energy suddenly come from ?? And why is the binding energy of heavy nuclei lesser than that of middle mass nuclei ??
  32. J

    How to get in on Nuclear Fusion Development

    Hey guys. I've recently developed an intense interest in nuclear fusion, and I was wondering what sort of majors would be relevant/helpful to a facility conducting research in that area (like ITER in France). I'm a freshman at Johns Hopkins U, and unfortunately there isn't a major in Nuclear...
  33. G

    About nuclear fuel cycle simulation software

    Hello ,everybody I plan to develop a nuclear fuel cycle simulation software . Is there any body interesting it. I think this is a very complex project. :)
  34. P

    Detection of neutrinos from nuclear reactors vs. ambient neutrino noise

    Hello, In experiments such as KamLAND, it is expected to measure neutrinos emitted by Japan's nuclear reactors. Such experiments were built to find evidence for neutrino oscillation. Is there anyone who knows how one can make the difference between the neutrinos from nuclear reactors and...
  35. Hercuflea

    Engineering Nuclear Engineering opportunities in Switzerland?

    I have just been browsing through some articles on Switzerland's Nuclear policies and it appears they have four working power plants and several other research reactors. I know they have ITER, and that would be great, but I am sure it is extremely competitive to get in there. Does anyone know...
  36. Z

    Help! About nuclear waste treatment

    Hi, I'm new here. And i have much wonder about the technology in the field of nuclear waste treatment. I have no idea where to find some info. and resourse. Can anybody provide some info of them? Much Thx.
  37. L

    Why can't any missile carry a nuclear warhead?

    Hi, Question about nuclear weapons: Often you hear about a missile that is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. But actually, why can't any missile be capable of this? Just take your favorite missile, build for it a nuclear warhead which is the same shape and size as the missile's...
  38. W

    Question on relationships between nuclear models

    So far in my physics education I've developed a basic understanding of two nuclear models, the liquid-drop model and the shell model. I read something a while ago (don't have the text on hand to quote the exact phrasing, unfortunately) that seemed to imply, in a couple of places, at least...
  39. E

    Electron influence on nuclear fusion in stars.

    My latest thoughts about the life, universe and everything has brought me to this scenario: [in a stars core, but a perfect thought situation, for the sake of illustration] there is a proton, electron and proton on one line in this particular sequence. I think, that the electron, witch has...
  40. C

    Anyone know a NJ nuclear chemist/physicist

    Hi! I teach 11th grade chemistry and 12th grade physics and I would be thrilled if a person that works with atoms could speak to my classes. I teach a private school in central NJ. Thanks
  41. O

    Nuclear Waste Disposal into Sun or outside Solar System?

    Hello fellow aerospace engineers and physicists, I am currently working on a project and trying to figure this out. I was wondering if you guys could help me out. Here is the problem statement: A nuclear waste disposal spacecraft is to be sent from Earth in order to carry radioactive waste...
  42. V

    Why Aren't Nuclear Power Plants Built Underground?

    Perhaps this is a very stupid question, but why aren't nuclear power-plants built underground? In a subterranean structure I'm thinking any natural disaster would at worst collapse the cavity without spreading radioactivity. Are subterranean construction really so intrinsically difficult...
  43. V

    Peak power for nuclear explosions

    I was reading this article http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-graph-suggests-iran-working-bomb-161109665.html on Iran's nuclear programme and at first thought the numbers on the left (relating to kilotons of energy per second) were off, but then I realized that it relates to peak power output at...
  44. A

    Engineering What Job Opportunities are Available for a BS in Nuclear Engineering Specialized in Radiological Health?

    I am going to be graduating with a BS in nuclear engineering specialized in radiological health. What are some possible jobs options that are available with good entry level pay?
  45. T

    Nuclear Capture of High Energy Positrons: Possibility and Potential Results?

    Has anyone launched a high energy positron into a nucleus with no electrons that had a neutron such as Deuterium ---> Tritium, Can you force positron capture? has it happened before and if so what happened? Because I was thinking couldn't you do this with a highly vacuumed out supercollider...
  46. S

    Nuclear decay activity - value for money?

    Homework Statement Radioactive nuclei A are produced at a rate R per second in a nuclear reactor. They decay with probability λ per second. (Qu 1-2 involving deriving the rate of change and number particles at any given time, I've done this). 3) Show the activity tends to R, a constant, as...
  47. V

    Engineering What are some top universities for nuclear engineering programs?

    Hey members, I've taken the GRE lately and scored 311 (Q-161). Well,I'm in my final year,doing Civil Engg. from Mumbai University and my acads are pretty much on the lower side(actually its pretty crap).And I wish to get into a nuclear engg. grad program.The thing is,I'm not sure what kind of...
  48. D

    What is the Largest Nuclear Fission Model?

    For our last physics and chemistry project at Tully High, we broke the record for the Largest Nuclear Fission Model with mousetraps and ping pong balls! The record can be viewed via the following link
  49. S

    Can Particle Accelerators Be Used for Economical Nuclear Fusion?

    can a machine like big bang machine be used for controlled nuclear fusion economically for prodution of electricity?
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