NUCLEAR
DISASTERS
It is impossible for any nuclear reactor to
explode like an atomic bomb. In order for an
uncontrolled chain reaction to occur that is
similar to an atom bomb, the uranium fuel
A nuclear and radiation accident is must be extremely enriched, much more than
defined by the International Atomic the 4% 235U that is present in regular,
Energy Agency as "an event that has commercial nuclear reactor fuel. So, if it
led to significant consequences to can't explode, what does happen in a nuclear
people, the environment or the
reactor? The answer is what is called a
facility." Examples include lethal
meltdown. When a meltdown occurs in a
effects to individuals, large
reactor, the reactor "melts.” That is, the
radioactivity release to the
temperature rises in the core so much that
environment, or reactor core melt." the fuel rods actually turn to liquid, like ice
turns into water when heated. If the core
continued to heat, the reactor would get so
hot that the steel walls of the core would
A
also melt. In a complete reactor meltdown,
nuclear disasters all start with a the extremely hot (about 2700 Celsius) molten
nuclear plant and a thing called a uranium fuel rods would melt through the
Nuclear Reactor.
bottom of the reactor and actually sink
about 50 feet into the earth beneath the
What is a nuclear
disaster?
power plant. The molten uranium would react
with groundwater, producing large explosions
of radioactive steam and debris that would
affect nearby towns and population centers.
In general, a nuclear meltdown would occur if
the reactor loses its coolant. Without coolant,
the core's temperature would rise, resulting in
the meltdown scenario explained above.
What causes a
nuclear disaster?
[1]
This picture is of an abandoned classroom in
Pryp’yat, Ukraine after the Chernobyl (Ukrainian:
Chornobyl) disaster in April of 1986. It remains the
worst nuclear disaster in history.
By : Thano K.