Pros of Nuclear Energy

The topic of using nuclear energy for civilian use has been a matter of debate in world politics. This form of energy can be used for used for civilian needs, if proper care is taken. However, the history of use of nuclear weapons still poses a threat to modern society. Creating nuclear power in a controlled environment though, is possible for solving the current energy crisis faced by the world. It requires a responsible and efficient government to handle such energy programs. This topic is a controversial one, and has nothing to do with our main course of discussion in the article. However, having an idea about pros and cons of nuclear energy should be useful. For the time being, let us try to understand what are the advantages/pros of nuclear energy. Get more information on advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

The advantages and benefits of nuclear power are discussed in the paragraphs below. Let us first know about the pros of nuclear energy and then, about nuclear energy pros and cons in subsequent paragraphs.

    * Reduction in the CO2 emissions is one of the most important benefits of using nuclear energy. Nuclear power is a clean form of energy, and holds potential to minimize the problem of global warming (resulting from CO2 emissions) to some extent.
    * The amount of energy generated in a nuclear plant is many times greater than that produced by other, conventional means. Nuclear fission is the reaction which takes place in the production of this form of energy; it is due to this chemical reaction that a high amount of energy is generated.
    * It is not necessary to develop the technology needed for the generation of nuclear energy from scratch. This technology is readily available. Learn more about uses of nuclear energy.
    * Requirement of fuel in the production of nuclear energy is less in comparison to that of other methods. Uranium is the raw material/fuel used in the production of nuclear power. The reserves of uranium in the world would last for next 50-60 years. The demand for uranium should also influence/affect the time taken for complete depletion of the resource.
    * Use of nuclear energy is best demonstrated in space propulsion applications. A relatively less reaction mass is needed in the generation of high mission velocities by the use of nuclear reaction. Higher energy density of nuclear reactions producing this form of energy is the reason why a lesser reaction mass is required. Here are few more facts on the advantages of nuclear power.

Production of Nuclear Energy

A controlled form of nuclear reaction is used in the production of nuclear energy. The nuclear fission reaction which is used in these power plants helps in heating water to form steam. The steam in turn is used to generate electricity.

Nuclear Fusion: The reaction of nuclear fusion is considered to be much safer than nuclear fission. This is because, the nuclear waste generated from nuclear fusion should be lesser than the fission reaction. The technical difficulties have acted as hurdles in the successful implementation of nuclear fusion for energy production on a large scale. Otherwise, the method is said to have great potential. More information on what is nuclear fusion and how does nuclear power work should be helpful.

Cons of Nuclear Energy

No matter how appealing and cost-effective the use of nuclear energy seems to be, there few disadvantages of using it. It is therefore, necessary to understand both the pros and cons of nuclear energy. The nuclear waste created by the power plants emit harmful radiations, if not disposed properly. Radiations produced from these wastes do not get extinguished for thousands of years. Thus, great care is required in handling the nuclear wastes. Let us find out more about nuclear power pros and cons.

The pros and cons of nuclear energy discussed in this article should be useful in understanding the subject from various angles. Along with pros of nuclear energy, the associated dangers need to be understood and tackled properly. Great maturity and responsibility needs to be shown by governments of countries which make use of this form of energy. If nuclear energy in the form of weapons fall in wrong hands, it won't require much time for World War III to begin. Nuclear energy as a tool can be therefore, be referred to as a double-edged sword which needs to be used with utmost care.

Advantages of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is being pitched as an apt replacement for the age-old fossil fuels, and this success of nuclear power can be attributed to various advantages that it has over the other sources of energy. As of today, nuclear power constitutes for about 16 percent of the total power generation in the world. Several countries, such as Japan and France, have acknowledged the prominent advantages of nuclear power and resorted to it. For example, more than 75 percent of power generation in France can be attributed to nuclear energy. Other countries are expected to follow the suit soon, as their evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plants is in progress. Before we move on to the advantages of nuclear energy, let's have a closer look at how does nuclear power work.

Nuclear Power Overview

Nuclear power is the power generated by nuclear reaction in the controlled environment within the huge nuclear reactors. In these reactors, radioactive elements are used as fuel to heat water to such an extent that the steam created by it rotates the turbines and produces electricity. The radioactive elements used in nuclear power plants include uranium, thorium and plutonium. The atoms of these radioactive elements are allowed to split in a process referred to as nuclear fission. This splitting of atoms produces copious amount of energy which is used to heat water and produce steam. Estimates suggest that the use of nuclear power to generate electricity for civilian use has the capacity to solve power crisis of the entire world.

Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants

Less polluting than coal and petroleum, more efficient than solar and wind energy! Nuclear power has an edge over the conventional as well as alternative energy sources. Basically, the numerous nuclear power advantages can be categorized into two groups - environmental advantages and economic advantages. Given below are the details about each of these groups.

Environmental Advantages of Nuclear Power
One of the foremost advantages of nuclear power generation over fossil fuels is that it is not polluting like the later. The creation of nuclear energy doesn't contribute to environmental issues such as global warming as it doesn't release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere like the fossil fuels do. More importantly, fossil fuels reserves across the world are bound to get exhausted at some or the other point of time. Going by the alarming rate at which we are using them, it is predicted that, the coal and oil deposits across the world are expected to finish by end of this century. On the other hand, the uranium deposits on the planet are to continue for a long time, and even if they end alternative sources in form of plutonium and thorium also exist.

Economic Advantages of Nuclear Power
Among the various advantages of nuclear energy, its efficiency is by far the most important. The amount of energy produced by a single ton of uranium far exceeds the amount of energy produced by burning million tons of coal. Even though the initial investment incurred on building nuclear power plants is quite high, the returns are also quite significant. The nuclear power plants built today are built with keeping safety and efficiency in mind. With time the technology used in these plants is also making progress, which in turn contributes to their efficiency. Yet another economic benefit of nuclear power is the fact that it is very easy to transport.

Both, the disadvantages and advantages of nuclear power plants have to be taken into consideration when determining whether this source of energy is efficient for development of power or not. While the critics of nuclear energy have been citing the various nuclear power plant disasters that have occurred in the past as one of the main reason for refraining from use of nuclear energy, its proponents are confident that it has the ability to sustain the energy requirements of the entire world, in a safe manner.

Nuclear Binding Energy

As per the atomic structure, an atom is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Ideally the mass of an atom should be the sum total of the mass of its constituent protons and neutrons (the mass of electrons is negligible), but it has been found that the sum total of the mass of protons and neutrons is higher than that of the nucleus. Physicists call this missing mass or energy as binding energy. In other words, binding energy can be defined as the energy needed to break down the nucleus into same number of free unbound neutrons and protons or inversely it is the energy required to hold the nucleus of an atom together. Nuclear binding energy is measured in kJ/mole of nuclei or MeV/nucleon.

According to the Einstein's theory of relativity
E = mc²
where E is the energy, m is the mass and c is the speed of light in vacuum.

From this equation we can deduce the nuclear binding energy equation, BE
BE = (Δm) c²
where Δm is the difference between calculated mass and actual mass.

Apart from the formula mentioned above, there is another simpler way to calculate the nuclear binding energy of chemical elements. Let us take an example which illustrates how to calculate nuclear binding energy.

Lithium -7 is made up of 3 protons and 4 neutrons.
The mass of Lithium -7 is 7.0160 AMU (atomic mass unit)
The mass of 3 protons is 3 is 3 × 1.0073 = 3.0219 AMU
The mass of 4 neutrons is 4 × 1.0087 = 4.0348 AMU
The mass of constituents of the nucleus = 3.0219 + 4.0348 = 7.0567 AMU
The mass defect = 0.0407 AMU
The nuclear binding energy of Lithium-7 = 0.0407 × 931 = 378.91 MEV

Nuclear Binding Energy Per Nucleon
Nuclear binding energy per nucleon is defined as the average energy needed to remove each nucleon.

Nuclear Binding Energy per Nucleon =

Nuclear Binding Energy Number of Nucleons

There is a relation between the binding energy per nucleon and the stability of the nucleus. That is, the higher the binding energy per nucleon, the more stable is the nucleus. According to the nuclear binding energy table, iron has the highest binding energy per nucleon. Nuclei with smaller mass than iron have lower binding energy per nucleon.

Nuclear Binding Energy Curve
Elements from Hydrogen to Sodium have increasing binding energy per nucleon. Elements are more stable from magnesium to xenon and then even though atomic mass increases the binding energy per nucleon decreases. The binding energy of nucleons is in millions of electron volts. One of the important analysis of the binding energy curve is that elements having atomic mass higher than iron have unstable nuclei, hence they emit energy by nuclear fission. On the other hand, elements with atomic masses lower than iron yield energy by nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission
If two light nuclei are forced together, they will combine to make a nucleus and this process will either release or absorb energy. In nuclear fission, heavy unstable nuclei disintegrate producing free neutrons and protons. Both of these yield enormous amounts of energy.

Nuclear binding energy is an important topic as far as research in the field of nuclear power is concerned. In the 20th century, most of the countries spent huge amounts of money funding research on nuclear physics, but 21st century has thrown different challenges in front of the global community, one of the most important of those being safeguarding nuclear power from falling into the hands of terrorists. While most eminent scientists have stressed on the fact that nuclear energy can be used to generate power, most countries want to tap this energy for defense purposes. In the end, we can only hope that nuclear energy is used for progressive purposes as the benefits of using nuclear power for domestic purposes are immense.

What is Nuclear Energy

The greatest problem facing mankind in the 21st century is that of shortage of energy. As we consume our fossil fuel reserves rapidly, the search for alternative sources of energy which can be effective substitutes is underway. The most powerful alternative today is nuclear energy which is derived from certain radioactive elements like Uranium. The aim of this article is to explain what is nuclear energy and how it is harnessed to provide electrical power to entire cities.

What is Nuclear Energy and How Does it Work?

To understand what is nuclear energy made of, you need to understand the process of nuclear fission. Nuclear energy has a long history and it all began with the discovery of radioactivity at the end of the 19th century. Certain chemical elements like Uranium, Plutonium, Radium and Polonium were discovered to be emitting certain ionizing radiations, which were later classified to be Alpha rays (Helium nuclei), Beta rays (high speed electrons) and Gamma rays (high energy electromagnetic waves). For more, check out the time line and history of nuclear energy.

It was understood that these radioactive nuclei were unstable and therefore emitted ionizing radiation to get transformed into more stable nuclei. This process of transformation of radioactive elements was known to be radioactive decay. When physicists bombarded certain radioactive elements with neutrons (neutral subatomic particles), they discovered the new phenomenon of 'nuclear fission', which was harnessed to create nuclear energy as an alternative source of power. One of the nuclear energy facts to note is that nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938 in Berlin, Germany. Check out the nuclear energy - pros and cons.

When a neutron is bombarded at a fissionable radioactive nucleus like Uranium-235, it's absorbed and a new unstable element is created, which subsequently disintegrates into two stable nuclei, along with the release of tremendous energy. This is nuclear fission.

The mass of the non-disintegrated nucleus is greater than the mass of the two split nuclei put together. The difference in mass is converted into energy. The magnitude of this energy can be estimated by the law - E = mc2, where m is the difference in mass and c is the speed of light (3 x 108 meters per second).

Thus nuclear fission unlocks the energy stored in the atomic nucleus and unleashes it for the use of mankind. So how does nuclear power work? It works through the setting up of nuclear reactors. The energy derived from the nuclear reactor is derived through millions of such fission events that occur within a stack of Uranium-235, which is bombarded by neutrons in a nuclear reactor core.

Nuclear fission within the stack of enriched Uranium-235 is sustained by a chain reaction. Every fission of Uranium nuclei also emits neutrons along with energy, which strike other nuclei to trigger more fission reactions. This chain of fission cascading chain reactions releases a tremendous amount of energy.

So how does a nuclear power plant work, to harness this energy? In the reactor, water is circulated around the Uranium core which gets heated due to the emission of released nuclear energy. This heat transforms the water into steam which is passed through thin tubes to be sprayed on turbines, which are connected to generators. The mechanical energy of the turbines is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by the generator and transmitted to our electrical grid. So if you are curious about what is nuclear energy used for, know that it's used to provide electrical power.

Now that you know what is nuclear energy, I suggest that you study the phenomenon in more detail by studying nuclear physics. As discussed before, nuclear energy created in nuclear reactors is made possible due to controlled fission of certain radioactive elements like Uranium-235. On the other hand, an atomic bomb is an example of uncontrolled fission. It's a great example of how destructive uncontrolled power can be and the same power can be constructive when it's harnessed in the right way!

Nuclear Energy Facts

Nuclear energy is energy or power generated by carrying out controlled chemical reactions. It is one of the most sought after types of energy these days, as it is considered a substitute to the conventional sources of energy. In simple ways, you can note that certain reactions like fusion and fission help in forming this energy. Nuclear energy is formed in a device known as a nuclear reactor, which is used to control chemical reactions. Let us take a look at the following nuclear energy facts to know what is nuclear energy.

Facts about Nuclear Energy

The following are the nuclear energy facts that will help you know how this energy is formed, its history; as well as the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.

    * Nuclear energy, in the simplest way, can be defined as the energy released due to a nuclear reaction. Uranium undergoes nuclear fission to form this energy.
    * If you take a look at the nuclear energy timeline and history, you will note that the discovery of this energy started immediately after the discovery of radioactive elements.
    * Although it is believed that Henri Becquerel discovered nuclear energy, contributions of several other scientists like Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Otto Hahn, Fritz Strassmann, proved invaluable. Their individual contributions in radioactivity and nuclear chemistry helped in production of this energy.
    * Nuclear energy is formed due to the conversion of mass to energy, that takes place due to splitting of atoms. This energy can be calculated using Dr. Albert Einstein’s famous formula E = mc2 (where E is energy, m is mass, and c2 is the speed of light)
    * If you are looking for interesting nuclear energy facts for kids, you can go through the Buzzle article on how does a nuclear power plant work, as you will find it interesting to read.
    * When talking about the nuclear energy pros and cons, it should be noted that this energy creates more energy as compared to other energy sources like wind and tidal energy.
    * Uranium (U-235) is the most widely used fuel for generation of nuclear energy, as its atoms split easily.
    * Around 15-18% of the world's electricity and nearly 20% electricity in the USA comes from nuclear energy.
    * Until the recent data available, there are around 104 nuclear power plants in the USA, and more than 400 all around the world, that produce nuclear energy.
    * One of the other pros of nuclear energy is that no harmful gases are emitted during the production of this energy. Therefore, it is considered as one of the best sources of energy without any air pollution.
    * However, nuclear energy facts also suggest that there are chances of episodes like the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 in Ukraine, occurring again. Although there are large number of safety facilities available today, one cannot totally prevent its re-occurrence.
    * When talking about uses of nuclear energy, production of energy and electricity is the biggest benefits. However, the increasing danger of nuclear weapons also looms over the whole world.
    * Nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, nuclear submarines, radiation therapy, etc. are also some of the examples of nuclear energy.
    * Lastly, when we talk about the nuclear energy problems and dangers, we cannot ignore the risks and consequences of radioactive exposure, and the never ending problem of radioactive wastes.

I hope you found these nuclear energy facts, pros and cons, and history interesting to read. Nuclear energy is the hottest topic in the modern world and it is in the hands of us, humans, to ensure whether to use it for the betterment of the world, or otherwise! Ciao!

Alternatives to Nuclear Energy

The earthquake, tsunami and radiations in Japan has once again ignited the debate on our dependence on nuclear energy. Critics have slammed the projections of government that nuclear energy is a safe energy source, and have stressed on the need to have suitable alternatives to nuclear energy. Proponents, on the other side, are of the view that nuclear energy has caused lesser damage as compared to other sources of energy like coal, which has caused two major accidents in the past. Nuclear energy was touted to be the future of energy, primarily because it produces a large amount of energy without producing too many wastes. However, there are several pros and cons of nuclear energy, and abandoning it can cause severe losses to nations. So, it is important that we have some safer alternatives to nuclear energy. Let us take a look at some energy sources which can act as a viable alternative to nuclear energy.

Safer Alternatives to Nuclear Energy

Solar Energy
Solar energy tops the list as far as the most effective alternative to solar energy is concerned. It virtually produces no pollution and is a renewable source of energy. Solar energy has been used since ancient times, but the modern use of solar energy focuses on its use on a large scale. It works on the principle that sunlight is concentrated over an area, and then with the help of solar panels the energy from the sun is tapped. The heat produced as a result of this is then used to boil water, which produces steam. The steam is then used to run dynamos, producing electricity. There are some disadvantages though, as in cold countries, the generation of electricity can be seriously hampered due to inclement weather. Also, to use solar energy for household purposes, the initial cost of investment is high, so not everyone can afford it.

Geothermal Power Generation
This form of energy can be looked at as another alternative to nuclear energy. Geothermal energy is present in the earth's core and is tapped by drilling into it. This form of energy considerably lowers levels of greenhouse gases, and once the geothermal plant is constructed, the costs of producing electricity are considerably lower. The challenge in tapping this source of energy lies in the fact that the cost and effort in building a geothermal power plant is immense, and there are selected places where this form of energy is available.

Wind Energy
Wind energy can also prove to be one of the effective alternatives to nuclear energy. Wind energy relies on the use of windmills to generate electricity. The wind energy is used to turn the blades of the windmill which in turn are used to rotate dynamos, producing electricity. The use of wind energy has proved to be beneficial in various countries, but it is still an underutilized energy source. There are some challenges in setting up a wind energy power plant as it needs a large unobstructed area, and the turbines are vulnerable to damage through environmental factors, such as lightning or storms. Another problem that it poses is that the energy produced as a result of wind energy is not consistent due to the varying speeds of wind.

Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power is one of the widely used sources of energy, and accounts for most of the power generated today. It works on the principle that potential energy of moving water is used to run the turbines, which in turn produces electricity. This form of energy has proven to be useful, but in places where there is scarcity of water, this energy option is not productive.

The alternatives to nuclear energy come with their own set of challenges. Researchers believe that nuclear energy has a tremendous potential, and if fully tapped, can put to rest all worries about depletion of non-renewable sources of energy. There has been emphasis on replacing Uranium with Thorium as a nuclear fuel, due to its comparatively safe use, but progress on this is in the initial stage. There is a wide consensus among researchers that nuclear energy cannot be wholly abandoned, and the onus should be to change the approach in which it is used. In the end, we would like to say that nuclear energy is indeed one of the most efficient sources of energy and it is the responsibility of the world leaders to ensure that it is used to its full potential for civilian purposes.

Medical Uses of Nuclear Energy

When we talk about nuclear energy, we are referring to the reactions of atomic nuclei. Although the very mention of nuclear energy reminds us about the different nuclear disasters, which have taken place all around the world, there are many positive uses of nuclear energy as well. One of the fields, where nuclear energy is widely used is the field of medicine. As a matter of fact, nuclear medicine is fast emerging as a specialty branch of medicine. Like I have previously mentioned, it is used both for diagnosis as well as treatment of disease. Radionuclide and the process of radioactive decay are used for the same. The different radionuclides of elements are combined with different chemical compounds or with pharmaceutical compounds, which results in radio-pharmaceuticals. These are later used for imaging, which helps in diagnosing the extent of spread of disease.

Uses of Nuclear Energy in the Field of Medicine

Radiation is used in medicine, which helps in giving information about the functioning of a specific organs in the body. The information given by this method is quick, which helps in accurate diagnosis of the condition of the patient. For treating certain medical conditions radiation dose is given to the patient internally, either using intravenous drips or orally. In some rare cases, external radiation therapy may also be given to the patient. This treatment is often used in treating conditions like hyperthyroidism, cancer, refractory lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors, palliative bone pain treatment, etc. Certain blood disorders can also be treated using nuclear energy. Painful tumor metastases of the bones can also be treated using radioactive material.

The most common of the medical uses of nuclear energy is its use in both medical and dental imaging. There are different radioactive organic molecules used for different types of imaging. Like for medical and dental imaging Cobalt-60 is used, while Technetium-99m is used as a tracer in the human body to detect diseases. The nuclear energy has a very powerful light force, which helps in taking the pictures inside the body. There are certain image processes with which inside of the body can be seen, which otherwise would be possible only with the help of exploratory surgery. The process helps in understanding the actual processes taking place inside the body.

The medical uses of nuclear energy include:

    * For analyzing kidney function.
    * To scan the blood flow to the heart and its functioning.
    * To scan the lungs to find and assess respiratory problems.
    * To identify infections in different parts of the body.
    * For measuring the functioning of the thyroid glands, which helps in assessing over active as well as under active functioning of the thyroid glands.
    * The different abnormalities in the brain like blood flow problems to the brain, seizures, memory loss can be identified with the help of nuclear energy.
    * It is also used for identifying abnormalities in kidneys, esophagus, intestines, etc., of children as much as in adults.

These were some of the important medical uses of nuclear energy. However, it is important to remember that there are certain medical implications of nuclear power as well. The implications are seen at different stages. They start when the radioactive materials are mined. People working in the field of radioactive milling, enrichment and fuel fabrication, reprocessing, waste storage, meltdown, etc., are known to suffer from the medical implications of radiation of the nuclear material. These implications are severe, therefore, before nuclear energy is used on patients, it is important that the threat to the patients be evaluated as well. Along with the medical fraternity, common people should also think, if they want to be exposed to nuclear energy, which although has positive powers also has repercussions.

Advantages of Nuclear Fission

All energy sources that are used to power our electrical power plants use the heat derived from exothermic reactions. Such a reaction is always accompanied with a net output of energy. Conventional energy sources are based on exothermic reactions like the combustion of gasoline, wood and coal. The phenomenon which can generate a net output of energy which is million times the energy generated through conventional sources is nuclear fission. Rearrangement in the placing of electrons, that are part of a molecular structure result into the generation of heat through combustion, while nuclear fission is based on the rearrangement of the inner structure of the atomic nucleus. This phenomenon unlocks the deep reservoir of energy that is contained within a radioactive nucleus.

In the wake of the twinfold disasters in the form of earthquake and tsunami disrupting the nuclear reactors in Japan, which resulted in dispersion of nuclear waste, people are asking whether nuclear power is really worth the investment. Through this Buzzle article, I have expounded the advantages of nuclear fission as an energy source, to argue in favor of nuclear power plant installation. The disaster which struck Japan, has sent a message to nuclear power plant architects to bolster safety arrangements of these installations. There is no reason to condemn the use of nuclear fission as an energy source. Hopefully, you will see my point, by the end of this article.

What is Nuclear Fission?

Nuclear fission is the phenomenon whereby a bombarded neutron on a heavy radioactive nucleus, causes it to split into two component radioactive nuclei, releasing a tremendous of energy in the process. The difference in the mass of the daughter nuclei and parent nucleus in converted into pure energy. Neutrons are also released through such a fission reaction which further collide with more fissile nuclei to create a chain of fission reactions, that release a tremendous amount of power in totality.

When such a reaction is allowed to continue in an uncontrolled fashion, what results is an atomic bomb. The same reaction when controlled in a nuclear reactor, can be used to heat water and generate steam to drive turbines, ultimately leading to generation of electricity. One radioactive element that is typically used in such a reaction is Uranium-235. That is nuclear fission for you in a nutshell.

Advantages of Nuclear Fission

Why have countries like USA and European countries invested so heavily in nuclear power? The reasons lie in the inherent advantages provided by the phenomenon of nuclear fission, which are as follows.

Million Fold Energy Output
Compared to the energy output of conventional fuels like coal, the energy derived from nuclear fission is million fold. Today, approximately 15% of the world's electricity is supplied by nuclear power plants. France and Japan largely rely on nuclear energy as their prime energy resource, which reduced their dependence on crude oil and coal. Because of the large energy output, the initial costs of setting up a nuclear power plant are well worth it.

No Emission of Polluting Greenhouse Gases
Another reason for choosing nuclear power over conventional fuels is the absence of polluting gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which is a major contributor to greenhouse effect causing global warming. This makes it a comparatively cleaner power generation mechanism, compared to conventional sources. Of course, there is a problem of radioactive waste which needs to be dealt with through proper disposal mechanisms.

If adequate safeguards are put in place and a proper procedure for nuclear waste disposal be created, nuclear fission based power plants can be the cleanest and most efficient energy sources. The immense power locked inside the radioactive atom can be harnessed through a controlled nuclear fission based chain reaction. Hope this article has made a strong case supporting nuclear power as an energy source, based on the inherent advantages of nuclear fission over conventional combustion reaction based energy sources.