Nuclear power

Question 1

energy from the nucleus (3)

Answer 1

all nuclear reactions can be a source of energy

• radioactive decay can be in the form of alpha or beta particles or gamma rays
• nuclear fusion: the fusing of hydrogen nuclei in the Sun releases enormous amounts of energy and heat, some of which we receive on Earth
• nuclear fission: uranium nuclei are split by slow-moving neutrons in a nuclear reactor, resulting in the release of enormous amounts of thermal energy

Question 2

nuclear power and waste

Answer 2

nuclear power is highly efficient and requires less fuel for the same amount of electrical energy

power stations produce radioactive nuclear waste, which needs to be dealt with
some of it is radioactive for thousands of years

Question 3

advantages of nuclear power (3)

Answer 3

• nuclear power stations do not produce carbon dioxide, so they do not contribute to climate change (although CO2 can be used in indirectly related processes)
• supplies of nuclear fuel will last longer than supplies of other fossil fuels
• it is more efficient than coal/oil/gas, requiring less fuel for the same amount of energy

Question 4

disadvantages of nuclear power (3)

Answer 4

• it is difficult and expensive to store nuclear waste safely
• an accident in a nuclear power station can spread radioactive material over a large area
• many people think that nuclear power is dangerous, and do not want new nuclear power stations to be built

Question 5

Explain the disadvantages of nuclear power [3]

Answer 5

nuclear radiation is very dangerous, so a nuclear accident could kill many people

there is much radioactive waste which is difficult and expensive to store, and some of it is radioactive for many thousands of years

public perception surrounding nuclear power as a form of energy means that people often distrust it because of previous accidents (such as Chernobyl and Fukushima)

Question 6

‘Nuclear power does not contain carbon dioxide emissions’

Explain why this statement is not correct [3]

Answer 6

energy is needed to build and decommission nuclear power stations, so unless all this energy comes from renewable sources some carbon dioxide will be added to the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels

Question 7

Describe how nuclear power pollutes the environment [4]

Answer 7

nuclear radiation in the form of gamma rays can escape from nuclear power stations in small amounts

nuclear fallout from nuclear reactors can be produced in major nuclear disasters

from radioactive waste produced in the reactor

from the decommissioning process (dismantling stations)