Nuclear reactors
Nuclear reactors are places where radio active materials are kept. They can be used for things such as medicine or they have even been used for power. However they do not come without their risks. One of the ways nuclear reactors are used is for medical treatments for illnesses such as cancer and leukemia. The reactor at Lucas Heights is Australia's reactor which researches and gives cancer treatment to the hospitals. Nuclear reactors can also be used to harness energy, they do this by using the heat that is emitted from the reactor to create steam which they use to spin turbines. An example of a nuclear power plant is Chernobyl. Nuclear power plants do have their risks and there have already been terrible disasters one of which being at Three Mile Island in the u.s. where the reactor had a damaged core. The reason why scientists thought that the core was damaged was because the reactors fuel was overheating and melting through the reactors thick walls made of steel and cement. When scientists found the problem they quickly found out that there was more damage then they expected. Scientists also feared that a hydrogen gas bubble would explode.
Regular check ups should also be taken on the walls of the reactor to make sure that there are no leaks or cracks where radiation is leaking out into the atmosphere. There are a few good and bad reasons that we should or should not have a reactor and each point must be looked at closely if we consider to build the new reactor. Also we have learnt from our mistakes and the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island reactors have taught us the major flaws a reactor can have (mainly cooling. The reactors in Chernobyl and Three Mile Island are related to The reactor in Lucas heights because they all have the same risk factors but in Australia we are lucky that we have the resources to keep our reactor in good working order. The new reactor at Lucas Heights would also give Australia a good insight into the future of nuclear power. Luckily nuclear waste is quite compact but if it is not stored of correctly it can have serious effects on flora and fauna in the area such as mutations in animals and the contaminating of nutrients in the soil. The reactor in Chernobyl was being used at the time to create power. It happened when the coolant for the reactor was not flowing properly and when the reactor overheated it caused nuclear fission which opened the walls of the reactor releasing radiation into the atmosphere. A disadvantage to the new reactor would be that the people living in the Lucas Heights area would be exposed to a lot more radiation waves than normal. Even though nuclear reactors d not produce any serious amounts of green house gases other than used fuels, however because it is radioactive each kilo of a nuclear reactors waste would be a lot more dangerous than a kilo of normal green house gas emissions. After the disaster the reactor was covered with sand clay and lead so that it would no longer leak radiation. Another advantage would be that it would be providing useful research and treatment for people with leukemia and cancer. We must relate back to other rectors so that we can keep our reactor and our new reactor in a safe working order. Chernobyl in the Ukraine had their reactor overheat in the year of 1986.
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Acceptance Essays
