Nuclear Energy (4/16-4/22)

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Summary:

Emissions of carbon dioxide are contributing to global warming, but is nuclear energy the answer to ending climate change? There are two ways that nuclear energy can be created: fission, and fusion. Fission is the most common process of creating nuclear power and happens when an atom is split into two, releasing energy in the form of heat and radiation, used to make electricity. Fusion is like the opposite of fission. Atoms are combined together, creating a new atom. Both of these processes help us power our homes, but should we increase the production of nuclear power in future?

There are many positives of nuclear power. First, and most importantly, nuclear power is carbon free, meaning that it would help us slow down climate change. Some other pros include that it is a very efficient way to produce heat, at it provides 20% of the electricity in the US, which according to a KQED science article titled "what's next for nuclear," is more electricity than solar, wind, and other renewable sources combined. However, there are negatives to this type of energy as well. Nuclear energy is very dangerous. There can be a radiation exposure, nuclear accidents and explosions, that have many effects on the people living in various areas, such as an increased risk of thyroid cancer, and other health effects. Another negative is that there is waste left over, which can be stored in various buildings, or buried underground, which is very risky as well. Nuclear energy is also an expensive source of power and is one of the reasons that nuclear energy is not used often in the US.

SP8: Obtain, Evaluate and Communicate Information

This week, we used scientific text to find important information, evidence, and ideas about nuclear energy.We obtained information from various sources to learn more and understand the positives and negatives of nuclear power. Next, we evaluated the information to figure out whether we were for or against nuclear power and some of the reasons that we made this decision. Once we were finished evaluating our information, we communicated with the other people in our group to compare ideas and important information that we learned. Overall, obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information has helped me stay organized and learn much more about nuclear power. 

Cause and Effect

This week in class, I noticed and observed a cause and effect relationship between nuclear energy and some of the effects that it has on our society and the world we live in. The cause of nuclear energy has many effects on the environment, including that it can be dangerous when waste is buried underground. There are also many emissions that can be harmful to the environment. Nuclear energy can also have an effect on the people that live near the power plant. It can increase the risk of various illnesses and has killed many in various nuclear accidents. Understanding this relationship has helped me learn more about the pros and cons of nuclear power and how it may affect the world we live in.

Multiplier

This week, I was a learner. I wanted to learn more about the topic and the effects of nuclear energy on the world. I learned more about the topic by reading various sources and communicating with my group. We shared what we learned and asked questions to make sure we all understood the topic to a deeper level. We shared ideas and the knowledge so that we understood the topic with a new point of view. This has helped me understand and learn more about nuclear energy and why it may affect the world we live in.