Over the last two days I had a pleasant exchange with a 7th grader from California who wanted to know more about nuclear energy for a school project.
He asked me about a dozen questions on nuclear power and I answered them. It was instructive to realize how I needed to formulate my own words to make sure my responses were simple, brief and intelligible to an intelligent middle schooler. Although a few big words have inevitably crept in I think I have kept the majority of answers simple and straightforward; it was certainly a fun thing to do.
One thing that struck me was how cogent and clear the questions are. They are certainly a testament to the thoughtful consideration which my correspondent and his parents have given to the topic. But it also struck me that they are exactly the kinds of questions which curious laymen who know little about nuclear power may ask (another one of those instances where an intelligent 7th grader is quite a match for an intelligent adult layman). So I added a few of my own and answered them too. I think cases like these where you are constrained to give short and simple answers to scientific questions are not only a good exercise in improving your own understanding of topics but are also a good resource for public education. As Niels Bohr used to say, whatever you want to explain you should be able to explain using plain language.
I do hope that more middle schoolers consider science and engineering careers in energy in general and nuclear energy in particular; responsible future citizens who tackle the energy crisis head on are crucial to this country’s development . Here are the questions and answers, in no particular order.
What are reasons that prove nuclear energy is not the best alternative to replace fossil fuel?
A: Nuclear energy is actually a pretty good replacement for fossil fuels. It emits very little CO2 and other pollutants and provides a lot of energy from a very small amount of fuel. It also generates a very small amount of waste. Compared to this, coal and oil produce a lot of air pollution and waste and you also need a lot of them to generate electricity.
Despite the low cost of running a nuclear power plant, will the expensive cost of making the nuclear power plants make people think about not funding for the nuclear power plants? Why?
A: The expensive cost of nuclear power plants comes from the very long time that is needed to build them; one reason they take so much time to build is because you want to ensure that they are safe, which is a good thing. However there are new power plant designs which promise to shorten this time and reduce the expense. There is especially a new and exciting reactor called the “small modular reactor” which is small and quickly built. In addition you have to balance the cost of power plants against the cost of electricity from them (which is quite low), the small amount of pollution that they cause and the other benefits which they provide over fossil fuels.
The Latest Bing News on:
Nuclear power
- New US sanctions against Russia target weapons development, ban uranium imports for nuclear poweron May 1, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Democratic President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law. About 12% of the uranium used to produce electricity at U.S. nuclear power plants is imported from Russia, according to the U.S.
- US senator urges Biden to include safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabiaon May 1, 2024 at 1:28 pm
A Democratic U.S. senator on Wednesday urged President Joe Biden to include strict nonproliferation safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabia that might come as part of a potential ...
- The Stage Is Set for a Resurgence of Nuclear Power in the U.S.on May 1, 2024 at 7:00 am
The US government is expected to reopen shuttered nuclear power plants to meet the increasing demand for clean energy, with the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan set to be the first to reopen in ...
- An Indigenous future for nuclear power in California?on May 1, 2024 at 3:00 am
California’s last operating nuclear power plant sits above the Pacific Ocean at Diablo Canyon, surrounded by 12,000 acres of wild land. It is traditional territory of the Yak Titʸu Titʸu Yak ...
- PSEG in talks to sell nuclear power to data centers: CEO LaRossaon May 1, 2024 at 2:35 am
Our New Jersey nuclear units could provide access to a highly reliable, carbon-free source of baseload power,” PSEG CEO Ralph LaRossa said Tuesday.
- CEZ gets French, S.Korean bids to build up to four nuclear power unitson April 30, 2024 at 5:31 am
Czech majority state-owned utility CEZ has received updated binding bids from South Korea's KHNP and France's EDF in a tender to build up to four nuclear power units, the company said on Tuesday.
- EU approves Czech state aid for nuclear power plant constructionon April 30, 2024 at 1:47 am
The European Commission said on Tuesday it had approved state aid offered by the Czech Republic for the construction of a nuclear power plant.
- Ninth Circuit clears way for Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant license extensionon April 29, 2024 at 3:42 pm
(CN) — The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant's new lease on life cleared another hurdle on Monday when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a challenge to a license extension granted by the ...
- Trump Or Biden, Nuclear Power Is Crucial For The Energy Transitionon April 29, 2024 at 9:54 am
As the world grapples with the existential threat of climate change, one energy solution transcends partisan politics: a bold reinvestment in nuclear power.
- A second new nuclear reactor is completed in Georgia. The carbon-free power comes at a high priceon April 29, 2024 at 9:04 am
The second of two new nuclear reactors in Georgia has entered commercial operation. Georgia Power said Monday that Plant Vogtle's Unit 4 is complete.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Nuclear power
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The Latest Bing News on:
Nuclear energy
- Meralco to build nuclear power plants by 2028on May 1, 2024 at 7:20 pm
Power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) plans to build micro modular nuclear power plants to energize remote areas in the Philippines within the next four years. “Our goal is to be able to ...
- UN’s nuclear watchdog chief to visit Iran next weekon May 1, 2024 at 2:36 pm
The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog will travel to Iran next week as Tehran’s nuclear program enriches uranium a step away from weapons-grade levels and international oversight remains ...
- US senator urges Biden to include safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabiaon May 1, 2024 at 1:28 pm
A Democratic U.S. senator on Wednesday urged President Joe Biden to include strict nonproliferation safeguards in any nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabia that might come as part of a potential ...
- CW39 New Nuclear Plant Goes on line AG and Energyon May 1, 2024 at 8:18 am
CW39 New Nuclear Plant Goes on-line . Plant Vogtle in Georgia is now the nation's largest nuclear plant. This formula is massive top seller — see why now, at a sweet bargain. Investors weren't ...
- Middle East crisis: Jordan says some Israeli settlers attacked aid convoys on way to Gaza – as it happenedon May 1, 2024 at 7:16 am
Two convoys on the way to Gaza attacked by some Israeli settlers, reports Jordan’s state news agency ...
- The Stage Is Set for a Resurgence of Nuclear Power in the U.S.on May 1, 2024 at 7:00 am
The US government is expected to reopen shuttered nuclear power plants to meet the increasing demand for clean energy, with the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan set to be the first to reopen in ...
- G7 agrees to reduce dependency on Russian nuclear energy supplieson May 1, 2024 at 12:07 am
"We note the ongoing efforts by countries which operate Russian-designed reactors to make progress in securing alternative nuclear fuel contracts and to reduce dependencies related to spare parts, ...
- Nuclear Fusion Breakthroughs Bring Near-Limitless Energy Closeron April 30, 2024 at 5:46 am
Physicists say the discovery offers a potential avenue to "economically attractive fusion energy" in the future.
- Trump Or Biden, Nuclear Power Is Crucial For The Energy Transitionon April 29, 2024 at 9:54 am
As the world grapples with the existential threat of climate change, one energy solution transcends partisan politics: a bold reinvestment in nuclear power.
- US firm overcomes 2 key barriers to reach scalable nuclear fusion energyon April 29, 2024 at 3:50 am
The breakthrough would enable denser and better-confined plasma, which is crucial to making fusion energy on a commercial scale.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Nuclear energy
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