nuclear power
Fission-derived electricity source
Nuclear power is energy generated by splitting atomic nuclei, typically uranium, in controlled chain reactions.
The heat produced creates steam that drives turbines to generate electricity.
Nuclear power provides substantial energy without carbon emissions during operation, though it raises concerns about radioactive waste disposal and the risk of catastrophic accidents: France gets most of its electricity from nuclear power.
Munition's explosive section
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- nonproliferationRestricting weapons dissemination
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
Hiroshima · Nagasaki · test ban · mutually assured destruction · ballistic missile · submarine · enrichment · weapons-grade
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
splitting · uranium-235 · plutonium-239 · control rods · coolant · moderator · enrichment · fuel rods
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
beta particles · ionizing · Geiger counter · dosimeter · shielding · contamination · fallout · exposure
Catastrophic loss of control
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- Three Mile IslandPennsylvania nuclear disaster site
- containment failureLoss of secure enclosure
evacuation zone · exclusion zone · regulatory · IAEA · inspection · redundancy · fail-safe · seismic risk
Device producing water vapor
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- cooling towerStructure for shedding process heat
- coreCentral essential portion
- scramDepart hastily, informally
Minimum continuous power demand
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- megawattMillion-watt unit
- gigawattBillion-watt unit
- generationAge-defined peer group
transmission · utility · dispatch · energy security · electricity production · kilowatt-hour · output · uptime
Minimal CO2 output
- decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- climate mitigationReducing global warming's drivers
greenhouse gas · energy transition · net zero · sustainable · alternative energy · energy mix · carbon footprint · climate policy
Formal argument on issues
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- waste disposalRemoving and processing garbage
- public opinionSociety's shared attitudes
moratorium · phase-out · activism · NIMBY · environmental impact · long-term storage · liability · insurance
warhead
Munition's explosive section
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- nonproliferationRestricting weapons dissemination
arsenal · Hiroshima · Nagasaki · test ban · mutually assured destruction · ballistic missile · submarine · enrichment · weapons-grade · disarmament
uranium
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
neutrons · splitting · uranium-235 · plutonium-239 · control rods · coolant · moderator · enrichment · fuel rods · reactor core
radioactive
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
alpha particles · beta particles · ionizing · Geiger counter · dosimeter · shielding · contamination · fallout · exposure · rad
meltdown
Catastrophic loss of control
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- Three Mile IslandPennsylvania nuclear disaster site
containment failure · evacuation zone · exclusion zone · regulatory · IAEA · inspection · redundancy · fail-safe · seismic risk · human error
steam generator
Device producing water vapor
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- cooling towerStructure for shedding process heat
- coreCentral essential portion
baseload
Minimum continuous power demand
generation · transmission · utility · dispatch · energy security · electricity production · kilowatt-hour · output · uptime · reliability
low-carbon
Minimal CO2 output
- decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
climate mitigation · greenhouse gas · energy transition · net zero · sustainable · alternative energy · energy mix · carbon footprint · climate policy
debate
Formal argument on issues
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- waste disposalRemoving and processing garbage
public opinion · moratorium · phase-out · activism · NIMBY · environmental impact · long-term storage · liability · insurance · subsidy
- energyelectricity, oil, fuel, gas, battery
- Innovationselectricity, steam engine, printing press, telephone, telegraph
- clean energysolar, wind, solar panels, wind turbines, renewables
- SwedenStockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Uppsala, Scania
- Nuclearatomic bomb, atomic bombs, uranium, reactors, fission
- nuclear energyuranium, plutonium, fission, fusion, reactor core
nuclear powerfossil fuels
Combustible prehistoric organic deposits
coal power · coal · natural gas · oil · petroleum
nuclear powerrooftop solar
Home-installed sun-power system
manual labor · human power · muscle power · wood burning · campfire
nuclear powermanual labor
Work done bodily
human trafficking · muscle power · hand tools · windmill · waterwheel
power, powerful, nuclear, nucleus, nucleate, nuclide, antinuclear, nucleated, nonnuclear