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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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boiling water reactor (BWR)
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A type of fission
reactor in which water surrounds the nuclear fuel core within the reactor. Control rods sit between the fuel rods and absorb stray neutrons. When the control rods are retracted, the fission process begins to occur, and a tremendous amount of heat is produced. This heat converts the surrounding water to steam. The force of the expanding steam spins a turbine to produce electricitv. |
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breeder reacting
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Creating nuclear
fuel from a substance that is not fissionable |
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control rod
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Parl o{
a fission reactor that sits betr,r.een the fuel rods and absorb strav neutrons. Wren the control rods are retracted, the fission process begins to occur. |
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electron
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A negatively
charged atomic particle |
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half-life
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The time
it takes for half the atoms present in an unstable element to transform into a new element. |
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isotope
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One of
two or more atoms with the same number of protons but with different numbers of neutrons |
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kyoto protocol
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Thrgets setin1997
by countries wishing to increase capacity while reducing carbon dioxide (CO.) emissions. |
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neutron
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The center
portion of an atom containing the protons and neutrons. |
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nuclear fission
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The process of
splitting a larger atom to produce two smaller atoms and a tremendous amount of energy. |
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nuclear fusion
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Ttrc
combining of two nuclei into a larger nucleus. The large nucleus weighs less than the two smaller nuclei that formed it. The result of this process yields a large energy release. |
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nuclear waste fund
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A
multibillion-dollar fund used for the development of a permanent nuclear waste disposal site |
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nuclear waste policy act
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An acl
passed by Congress lrl.1982 promising that the federal government is to take nuclear waste from the utilities for permanent storage |
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nucleus
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The center
portion of an atom containing the protons and neutrons |
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plasma
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Ionized
gas with an equal number of positive and negative charges. |
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plutonium 239 (Pu-239)
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A fissionable
fuel created from uranium 238 (U238)by a breeder reactor |
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pressurized water reactor (PWR)
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A
reactor that works similarly to aboiling water reactor (BWR), except it makes use of a heat exchanger known as a steam generator. A PWR can operate at higher pressures and temperatures than a BWR. Unlike the BWR, the steam generator in a PWR allows the turbine to remain free of radioactive contamination. |
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primary loop
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The
part of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) in which the water is heated. It surrounds the reactor core. |
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proliferation
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The
use of by-products of nuclear power for the production of nuclear weapons |
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proton
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a positively charged atomic particle
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radioactivity
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A
property of some atoms, such as those of uranium decay, in which they give off atomic particles. The particles emitted are harmful to humans and other living things. |
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secondary loop
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The part of a pressurized
water reactor (PWR)in which steam is created |
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shipping cask
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a container designed container designed from one facility to another
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three mile island (TMI) accident
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A nuclear disaster
occurring in7979 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Unit 2 reactor reached excessir.ely high temperatures through a series of faulty readings and operator errors. Eventually, a small piece of the reactor core melted, rendering the reactor unusable before the situation was brought under control. |
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uranium 235 (U235)
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An element
whose atoms can be split more easily than most others, making it suitable for refining into nuclear fuel |
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uranium 238 (U238)
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Atype of
uranium that is a nonfissionable element. About 99% of all uranium mined is this type |
