The United States is the world's largest producer of nuclear power. The United States accounts for more 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. Nuclear energy is energy that is stored within the nucleus of the atoms. The only way for this energy to be released is through the splitting of or joining of atomic nuclei. Nuclear energy is used everyday for generating electricity, medicine, industry, agriculture, homes, cities and many other uses.
Example of nuclear energy: A fission reaction at a nuclear power plant provides energy to give electricity to large cities. The fusion reaction in the sun provides our planet with all of the energy it needs for living organisms to survive. If an uncontrolled fission reaction occurs ot can provide the the destructive force of an atomic bomb which would be disastrous if an explosion would occur. Pros Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions High Power Output Inexpensive Fossil Fuels used Cons (Possible) Nuclear Accidents High cost for building plants. Target for Terrorism Non renewable source of energy |
Future
Nuclear energy has had it's problems and disasters with the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Three Mile Island near disaster. Nuclear energy has helped the United States with generating electricity for homes, medicine uses, low greenhouse emissions which doesn't hurt the ozone layer as much. It's not very expensive to use and it's very high in outputting energy. Nobody in the United States has died or been affected by nuclear energy powered accidents. It's very safe and humans in the U.S. will not be affected. |