Nuclear energy is another form of non-renewable energy.

It is obtained through mining and refining uranium ore.

Unlike coal or other forms of non-renewable energy nuclear energy is relatively clean, by which I mean, unlike fossil fuels the amount of toxin gases and carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is very low.

Uranium occurs naturally in the earths core. However the deposits occur in small quantities.

Once collected, uranium is refine and compounded into rods

The rods are then place in tanks of water. When the uranium reaches ‘critical mass’ it begins to break down and release energy as heat. This breaking down is nuclear fission.

The heat given off boils the water, creating steam. This steam is pressurised and used to turn a turbine and generate electricity.

However the issue with nuclear is, that if the slightest thing goes wrong, the consequences can be disastrous.

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Unfortunately there are some down sides to nuclear energy.

Nuclear reactors are expensive to run and produce high toxic waist. Although the waste isn’t emitted to the atmosphere it is still dangerous.

The waist needs to be stored for hundreds or thousands of years before it becomes harmless, and stored in remote area, far away from civilisation.

The video to the right shows the 3 pros and 3 cons for nuclear.

The above videos can be seen in full at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOFV4y5z8c