The following is a report by Andy Kienlen, age 11, for his 7 th grade English class. He did his own research at the University of North Texas library in preparing the report.
Nuclear Power Compared to Coal Power By: Kenneth Andrew Kienlen, age 11 For: Ms. Balistrer’s 7th grade English Class December 16, 2004
Nuclear power is a better source of energy than coal power. Report outline: I-
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Nuclear Safety A. Nuclear power is safer for the people working there 1. Less risk of injury 2. Safety precautions B. Nuclear core protection 1. Safety precautions C. Chernobyl Nuclear fuel A. Nuclear fuel is available and profitable B. Nuclear fuel can be reused Environmental safety A. Coal mine clean up is costly B. Coal power produces a lot of waste
Nuclear power is generated from mined uranium. It works like this: first nuclear fission makes heat, it heats the water to make steam, the steam turns the turbines, the turbines turn the generator, and electrical power is sent all across the country. Enrico, Rutherford, and Neil Bohr invented nuclear power. The first large scale nuclear power plant was opened at Calden Hall in Cumbria, England, in nineteen fifty-six. The United States of America uses twenty percent nuclear power, Sweden uses forty-seven percent, Belgium uses sixty-five percent, and France uses seventy-four percent nuclear power. No accidents have occurred in any of these countries that utilize nuclear power. Nuclear power produces less waste than coal power, produces more energy, has a safer working environment, and a better living environment than coal power. Nuclear power does not pollute as much as coal power, therefore, helping to prevent the greenhouse effect, and acid rain. Nuclear power is a better source of energy than coal power. Nuclear power has a safer working environment. One reason is the safety precautions taken to protect the people and the nuclear core. The United States safety precautions for nuclear power plants include five barriers, four safety levels, and manual override switches. The four safety levels are prevention, core protection, containment, and emergency preparedness. They also have emergency crews on stand by if an accident happens. Workers at a nuclear power plant are not exposed to any more radiation than the environment. Workers in coalmines can get killed or injured in a mine collapse, or from dangerous gasses. Thus nuclear power is safer for the people who work there. The opinions of people on nuclear power were set by Chernobyl. Chernobyl was a Russian nuclear power plant in the nineteen-eighties. There was an accident at the Chernobyl power plant, and it blew up. After the accident a United States committee said that nuclear power in America is the best.