Nuclear technology

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nuclear-technology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Nuclear technology?Electricity generation, medical diagnostics and therapeutics, scientific research, space propulsion
2. What is the fundamental processes?Nuclear fission (splitting heavy nuclei) and nuclear fusion (merging light nuclei)
3. What is the societal challenges?Nuclear proliferation, radioactive waste disposal, public safety concerns, climate change mitigation
4. What is nuclear technology and how does it use atoms to make energy?Nuclear technology uses the tiny center of atoms, called the nucleus, to create energy. In fission, heavy atoms split into lighter ones, releasing heat that powers electricity. In fusion, light atoms join together, producing even more energy.
5. How do nuclear power plants keep the chain reaction safe?They carefully control the amount of fissile material so the reaction stays steady. Modern designs, like Generation IV reactors, add extra safety features to stop the reaction if something goes wrong.

Fissile Material: A material, such as Uranium-235, capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction.
Critical Mass: The minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
Radioisotope: An atom with an unstable nucleus that emits radiation; used in medicine and industry.