The advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power and fossil fuels and which is the better source of energy for the near future? Is it a long-term solution? Is there a better solution currently under development?
The advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power and fossil fuels and which is the better source of energy for the near future? Is it a long-term solution? Is there a better solution currently under development? This report aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two main methods of electricity production, and to decide on which method seems to be the best for large scale electricity production in the future, based on each method's economical and environmental implications. The most widely used fuel in power plants is coal.1 Research into alternative fuel sources stems from concerns about the global environment The problem about choosing whether or not to completely 'go nuclear' or carry on using fossil fuels stems from many environmental and economic factors. The ideal power source will produce the largest amount of energy achievable at an affordable cost, with as little environmental pollution as possible. In this report, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels and nuclear power, and which comes the closest to fitting this 'ideal' power source model. From this I will speculate on the best way forward for large-scale energy production. When I have drawn conclusions concerning these two methods of energy production, I will then discuss the energy production ideas that are currently being researched and developed by physicists, and
What is the best way to keep hot water hot for the longest period of time
Introduction In this practical experiment, I am going to find out what is the best way to keep hot water hot for the longest period of time. The way that this can be achieved is by preventing, Radiation, Convection and Conduction. Planning I am going to apply my background knowledge to the experiment so that it is easier to choose which items I am going to use in the experiment. Here is my background knowledge. Background knowledge I already know that heat can be lost by conduction, convection and radiation. Therefore it would be in great interest to look into these in depth as then I can see how I can prevent these from occurring. The first way I am going to cover is conduction Conduction- Conduction is what occurs in many solids. The way it is mainly passed is through the solids' vibrations. This is how the solid will look as the vibrations are passed through it. Most non-metals are not good conductors and are good insulators as they do not vibrate as much so therefore the process of conduction is very slow. Convection- The convection of heat occurs in liquids and heat only. It is a much more effective process then conduction so I am going to concentrate on stopping convection more then stopping conduction. Convection is when heat from a hot region takes the heat and moves to a cooler region. Here is a picture of what happens in the convection
Physics Argument - Is Sunbathing Good For You?
Is Sunbathing Good for You? The ultraviolet radiation (UV) in sunlight can cause skin cancer. there are many factors that can effect the risk involved when you sunbathe. Your skin tone can effect the damage caused by UV radiation because the brown pigment in skin, menalin, provides some protection. The darker your skin the more protected you are from the damaging effects of sunlight. If you have particularly fair skin, you should take extra care when sunbathing; use a suncream with a high SPF and don't stay out in the sun for prolonged lenghts of time. The amount of time you can spend in the sun varies from person to person but if you know you are proned to burning or if you have a family history of skin cancer you, too, should take extra precautions. People who have had excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun without protection are at a greater risk from skin cancer as this is the most common cause of skin cancer. Again, you could avoid this by using suncream and not staying out for too long. Males are 2-3 times more likely than females to have basal cell and squamous cell cancers. All children should wear suncream because they have more sensitive and reactive skin than adults. Playing in the sand and swimming can remove many protection screens so it should be reapplied as often as possible, children are recomended to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above.
Radioisotopes to the Rescue
Radioisotopes to the Rescue By: Tahmid Zaman The modern era is the age of technological innovation. Everyday new inventions are created through science and helped better the lives of billions of people. One such innovation of the 20th century was the usage of radioactive isotopes to aid in various fields of science. A radioisotope occurs when a nucleus strives to achieve a balance between the protons and neutrons. All atoms seek a balance and when there is an excess of protons than neutrons in a nucleus that makes it unstable. To achieve this balance the nucleus tends to give up neutrons and in that process energy is released in the form of radiation. However, this great technological innovation brought along some risks, but the usefulness of such a technology far outweighs the few risks associated with it. While there are some risks involved, radiation from isotopes can be used in various ways in the fields of research, industry and medicine much to the benefit of society. Radioactive isotopes have been a key instrument in the research, industry and medical fields of the new digital age. Radioactive isotopes are often used in research. Radioisotopes are the energy source of the future. A new method of energy is being used to power the future of space exploration through the use of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators where the long-lasting half-life of the Plutonium-238
An Investigation To Show The Varying Amounts Of Microbial Decay Caused By The Amounts Of Water Added to soil
An Investigation To Show The Varying Amounts Of Microbial Decay Caused By The Amounts Of Water Added. Aim Our aim is to find the best type of soil for microbial decay. Apparatus * 15 pieces of raw cabbage 4cm2 (three in each pot), * Five plastic pots, * Five pots of different types of Soil/Compost, * Five labels, * Weighing scale, * Rulers * We will put all pots in the same place making the temperature the same for each pot (room temperature). This will make the test fair. Variable We have decided that we will have one variable this will be the variation in the amount of water we give the plant at the start of the test. We will have the following: * 1 tub of peat soil, * 1 tub of sandy soil, * 1 tub of sterilised soil, * 1 tub of soil from the environmental area, * 1 tub with no soil. It is important to keep all other possible variables constant and the same through out the whole of the experiment. So I will put all of the pots in the same place in the same tray. This will make sure if the temperature in the room varies, all the pots will experience the same change for the same amount of time. Method I am going to investigate microbial decay by placing three pieces of cabbage in a pot and filling it with soil. I will make it a fair test by placing all the pieces of cabbage away from the other pieces. So they are not making contact with anything else other
The uses and dangers of electromagnetic radiation
The uses and dangers of electromagnetic radiation What is electromagnetic radiation? The electromagnetic spectrum is a name that scientists gave to different types of radiation when referring to them as a group. Radiation is an energy that spreads out as it goes. For example; visible light is part of that spectrum, the type that comes from a fire or a light, radio waves are another example, like the ones that are you get on AM radios. There are seven segments to the electromagnetic spectrum; Radio, Microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma rays. Radio is largest wave length, but the smallest frequency and Gamma rays are the opposite. All of the radiation act like light, and even though they all have different wave lengths and frequency's they travel at the same high speed; 300,000,000 Meters per second (speed of light). All of them are given of by stars in space; however some of them are absorbed by the earth's atmosphere. Radio: This is the same type of radio wave that is emitted by radio stations, but there not the only things that do, stars and gases in space also emit radio waves. The everyday uses of these are; AM and FM radios, Aircraft and shipping bands and shortwave radio. Radio waves penetrate the Y part of our atmosphere. The wavelength for radio is 10^3, and the frequency is 10^4. Microwaves: These are the same types used your microwave
Physics - 21st Century Mobilephones
Are they a risk to your health? What are we worried about? Up till now- - the year 2007 approximately 3.14 billion people around the world have brought mobile phones. That almost half the world's population and the number are still growing. When you use your mobile phone, it gives out radiation in all directions - some goes through you. This radiation is the same as the radiation used in microwaves to cook food. The amount of radiation being emitted is small but is it harmless? The aim of my case study is to analyze the facts and I shall write about if the claims made are true and in the end I will try to come to my own conclusion to say if mobile phones are dangerous or not. Content Page 1 Introduction Page 2 Contents page Page 3 What is inside a mobile phone? About Microwave radiation Page 4 Electro Magnetic Spectrum diagram Page 5 Ionising radiation Non-ionising radiation Page 6 Do microwaves cause harm? Page 7 Tumours Page 8 Cell structure and activity Are children more at risk? Page 9 ALARA Page 10 Conclusion Page 11 Evaluation Bibliography What is inside a mobile phone? The inside of a mobile phone usually consists of a circuit board, an LCD display to view all the functions of your mobile phone, a microphone so you can speak in to your phone, a loudspeaker so you can hear what people are saying to you on the phone, a sim card to store
Blackbody Radiation.
Blackbody Radiation: It is well-known that when a body is heated it emits electromagnetic radiation. For example, if a piece of iron is heated to a few hundred degrees, it gives off e.m. radiation which is predominantly in the infra-red region. When the temperature is raised to 1000C it will begin to glow with reddish color which means that the radiation emitted by it is in the visible red region having wavelengths shorter than in the previous case. If heated further it will become white-hot and the radiation emitted is shifted towards the still shorter wave-length blue color in the visible spectrum. Thus the nature of the radiation depends on the temperature of the emitter. A heated body not only emits radiation but it also absorbs a part of radiation falling on it. If a body absorbs all the radiant energy falling on it, then its absorptive power is unity. Such a body is called a black body. An ideal blackbody is realized in practice by heating to any desired temperature a hollow enclosure (cavity) and with a very small orifice. The inner surface is coated with lamp-black. Thus radiation entering the cavity through the orifice is incident on its blackened inner surface and is partly absorbed and partly reflected. The reflected component is again incident at another point on the inner surface and gets partly absorbed and partly reflected. This process of absorption and
What is the electromagnetic Spectrum?
Claire Harvey What is the electromagnetic Spectrum? In this assignment, I will tell you what the electromagnetic spectrum is and how it relates to everyday life. I will then explain how it is so relevant in the world of medicine and communications. The wind creates waves in a flag; ocean waves travel on the surface of the water and you can see and feel both of theses waves. There are also other kinds of waves we cannot see, but we experience them everyday. Theses are. Sound is also a wave we cannot see, but like ocean waves, sound needs a medium to travel through. Sound can travel through air because it is made of molecules. The molecules in air carry the sounds waves by bumping off each other, sound can travel through anything made of molecules even water, that is why there is no sound in space because there are no molecules there to transmit the sound. Electromagnetic waves are unlike sound waves because they do not need molecules to travel. This means electromagnetic waves can travel through air and solid materials but they can travel through empty space. The electromagnetic spectrum is the name given to a collection of electromagnetic waves that share a large number of common properties but differ in wavelength. Electromagnetic waves are formed when electric fields join with magnetic fields. Magnetic and electric fields waves are perpendicular to each other and
Thermionic emission and Radiation and half-lives.
Introduction For the write-up section of my coursework I went on a trip to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in order to look at the application of physics within the field of medicine. I intend to spend time explaining two physics principles which have uses in this scientific field, and illustrate how they are used, either within the diagnosis or treatment of a patient. Two principles: . Thermionic emission. 2. Radiation and half-lives. Thermionic emission Thermionic emission is a phenomenon by which electrons are emitted from the surface of a metal or metal oxide. The flow of these electrons can only occur when the thermal vibrational energy of the matrix overcomes the electrostatic forces preventing the electrons leaving the surface. Thermionic emission is entirely reliant upon the 'sea of free electrons'. This is the collective name given to the one or two electrons per atom, in any metal, which are free to move around and are not bound to the atom. The velocities of these free electrons follow a statistical distribution, and occasionally an electron will have enough velocity to overcome the electrostatic retaining forces. The minimum amount of energy required for one of these electrons to escape is called the work function. The work function varies within different materials. The process can occur at any temperature above absolute zero but it is extremely
