AP Environmental Science: Nuclear Flashcards

9670452603	Isotope	two atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons	0
9670452604	Radioactive isotope	An atom with too many protons or neutrons that spontaneously emits particles from its nucleus	1
9670452605	Alpha particles	Type of radioactive decay, is a helium nuclei, stopped by skin	2
9670452606	Beta particles	Type of radioactive decay, electrons stopped by clothing, glass, or aluminum	3
9670452607	Gamma rays	Type of radioactive decay, the most harmful type of energy, electromagnetic radiation that can go through the body, several centimeters of lead or a meter of concrete	4
9670452608	Absorbed Dose	The amount of energy absorbed by a person (measured in grays)	5
9670452609	Half-life	Time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay	6
9670452610	Hot isotope	Has a short half-life, is an immediate/serious threat, and decays into a stable element sooner	7
9670452611	Cold isotope	Has a long half-life, is a non-immediate threat, and has a long term storage problem	8
9670452612	How radiation creates free radicals	Ionizing radiation damages cells by stealing electrons from their atoms which creates free radicals-turns them into ions	9
9670452613	Three ways radiation exposure effects human health	Massive cell death, genetic mutations, cancers	10
9670452614	Radiation risk assessment	The type of energy, how long the half-life is, the phase or state it is in, and its daughter isotopes	11
9670452615	the worst phase or state of radioactive energy	Gas	12
9670452616	the worst daughter isotopes	radioactive	13
9670452617	Fission	Splitting an atom with a neutron	14
9670452618	Names of radioactive isotopes that can be split	U-235 and Pu-239	15
9670452619	radioactive isotope that cannot be split	U-238	16
9670452620	How is fission in a nuclear bomb different than fission in a nuclear power plant?	In a bomb, the chain reaction is not controlled	17
9670452621	Boiling water reactor	In this reactor, the same loop serves as a moderator, coolant for the core, and a steam source for the turbine. Has 1 loop	18
9670452622	Pressurized water reactor	In this reactor, the water which flows through the reactor core is isolated from the turbine. Has 2 loops	19
9670452623	Liquid metal fast breeder reactor	In this reactor, a fission reaction occurs that produces heat to run a turbine while at the same time breeding plutonium for the reaction. Has 3 loops	20
9670452624	Nuclear Fuel Cycle	Mining and Milling, Conversion, Enrichment, Fuel Fabrication, Nuclear Power Station, Storage, Reprocessing, Vitrification, Final Disposal	21
9670452625	Why is nuclear power neither cheap nor fossil free?	Processing ore into concentrated fuel uses huge amounts of FFs. Processing/transport/long term storage also uses FFs and is dangerous and expensive. The governments around the planet have also spent billions on nuclear clean up.	22
9670452626	Thermal pollution	heating of water reduces O2 levels in lakes, rivers, and the ocean	23
9670452627	Three Mile Island	This nuclear accident was a partial meltdown and vented waste into the air. Happened in Harrisburg, PA ,1979.	24
9670452628	Chernobyl	In this nuclear accident the reactor blew up and resulted in a full meltdown.	25
9670452629	Chernobyl Exclusion Zone	The 1000 square miles in Ukraine around the nuclear reactor that no one is allowed to live within.	26
9670452630	Fukushima Daiichi	This nuclear accident was a partial meltdown with a massive release of fallout and contaminated seawater.	27
9670452631	decommissioning	The process of dismantling and burying nuclear power plants. Although, Nuclear power plants last 20-30 years and are highly radioactive at the end of their lives and before they can be decommissioned you have to wait 100 years. This is costly for future generations.	28
9670452632	High level waste and location	Fuel rods are this and are supposed to be stored in Yucca Mountain.	29
9670452633	Low level waste and location	Gloves count as this kind of waste and they are located in Washington, South Carolina, and Nevada	30
9670452634	Yucca Mountain	The mountain that the government wants to store high level nuclear waste in, but it has not been completed because Nevada does not want it in their "backyard".	31
9670452635	Fusion	Nuclear reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei collide at a very high speed to form a new type of atomic nucleus. The same process as in stars.	32