The products and by–products of nuclear fission are often radioactive.
The products and by–products of nuclear fission need to be safely stored for very long periods of time.
Nuclear reactors do not emit carbon dioxide and risks of catastrophic failure are very small.
Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temperatures such as those found in the centre of stars.
Nuclear fusion power stations would create very little radioactive waste, but have not yet been developed.

Keywords

Nuclear waste - produced in nuclear power plants; high–level waste is the most radioactive and dangerous
Radioactive contamination - caused when radioactive materials are released into the environment
Decommissioning - the process of shutting down and dismantling a nuclear power plant, which is very expensive
Carbon emissions - emitted from fossil fuel power stations and are mostly carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas
Nuclear fusion - the combining of small nuclei at very high temperatures with the release of energy

Common misconception

Nuclear power stations continually emit radiation into the environment.

Clearly distinguish day–to–day processes and the lack of emissions from the generation of nuclear waste, and methods for dealing with it.

For some classes, it can help to prepare information cards that can be sorted into categories of pros, cons, and neutral impact, in order to scaffold pupils' descriptions of the pros and cons of nuclear power stations.

Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

What happens when a nucleus undergoes fission in a nuclear reactor?

it combines with other nuclei, forming a larger atom

it emits only heat, with no by–products

Correct answer: it splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy

it absorbs neutrons without breaking apart

Q2.

What produces the energy in a nuclear power station?

the burning of uranium (or plutonium) in the reactor

the combining of two uranium (or plutonium) nuclei

the absorption of neutrons by fuel rods

Correct answer: the splitting of uranium (or plutonium) nuclei during fission

Q3.

How is heat transferred from the reactor core to produce steam in a nuclear power station?

Correct answer: heat is transferred to water through the heat exchanger

fuel rods directly burn and heat the water

steam is produced by the control rods

the turbine produces heat by spinning

Q4.

What role does steam play in generating electricity in a nuclear power station?

steam absorbs radiation from the reactor

steam heats the reactor core

Correct answer: steam turns the turbine, which drives the generator

steam cools the control rods

Q5.

What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reactor?

Correct answer: they absorb neutrons to control the rate of the chain reaction

they release neutrons to start the chain reaction

they produce heat by burning fuel

they slow down the movement of steam

Q6.

Which of the following statements about nuclear and fossil–fuel power stations are correct?

Both nuclear and fossil–fuel stations emit large amounts of carbon dioxide.

Fossil–fuel power stations are more efficient than nuclear power stations.

Correct answer: Nuclear power stations generate heat through nuclear fission.

Correct answer: Fossil–fuel power stations burn coal, gas, or oil to produce heat.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Why are the products of nuclear fission often radioactive?

Correct answer: they are formed by splitting unstable nuclei and are often unstable themselves

they are not radioactive, they are made from stable isotopes

they become radioactive when heated

radioactivity is unrelated to nuclear fission

Q2.

Which of the following statements about fission by–products is correct?

They cool down slowly and can reignite.

They release energy but only for a few days.

They become safe after a few months.

Correct answer: They remain radioactive and dangerous for thousands of years.

Q3.

Match the following levels of radioactive waste to the correct descriptions.

Correct Answer:low–level waste (LLW),contains small amounts of radioactivity, often from hospitals/industry

contains small amounts of radioactivity, often from hospitals/industry

Correct Answer:intermediate–level waste (ILW),more radioactive than LLW and requires shielding but not cooling

more radioactive than LLW and requires shielding but not cooling

Correct Answer:high–level waste (HLW),extremely radioactive and requires cooling and long–term storage

extremely radioactive and requires cooling and long–term storage

Q4.

How does the risk of catastrophic failure in modern nuclear reactors compare to other energy sources?

Correct answer: the risk is very low due to advanced safety measures

the risk is much higher than other energy sources

the risk is the same as in fossil fuel plants

there is no risk of failure in nuclear reactors

Q5.

Why would fusion reactors be considered better than fission reactors?

fusion uses less energy to generate the same amount of power

Correct answer: fusion reactors carry no risk of runaway chain reactions

fusion reactors are already widely in use for energy production

Correct answer: fusion reactors would produce less radioactive waste

Correct answer: fusion releases more energy per kg of fuel than fission

Q6.

Why have nuclear fusion power stations not yet been developed?

fusion doesn’t produce enough energy to be useful

Correct answer: it is difficult to achieve the high temperatures required for fusion on Earth

fusion produces too much radioactive waste

we lack the fuel necessary for fusion reactions