Science 30
Unit D - Energy and the Environment
Section 8 – Alternative Energy
Name _____________________________________
McKennitt
Table of Contents
 8.1 – Radiation and Nuclear Reactions
 8.2 – Nuclear Energy
 8.3 – Alternative Types of Energy
Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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Lesson 8.1 – Nuclear Energy - Radiation and Nuclear Reactions
The Atom Review
Nucleons - protons and neutrons
The atomic mass is the number of nucleons
The atomic number is the number of protons.
Isotopes are a particular element with a different
number of nucleons. (i.e. carbon-12, carbon-13)
Practice: How many protons and neutrons are in the following? Write the following in nuclear
notation.
 Carbon-14
 Uranium-235
 Silicon-27
 Phosphorus
All right… now lets split some atoms!
Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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Radioactive Decay- Unstable nucleus’ emit radiation particles in both natural and man-made
processes. We will look at alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. In addition, we will look at nuclear
fission and fusion. (p. 8 of data book) – You need to be able to write the formulas for all five and
recognize each of them.
We will be balancing these reactions to keep the left side equal to the right side for both the
nucleons and the atomic number.
1. Alpha Particle Radiation/Decay – a positively charged particle with two neutrons and two
protons.
Practice: Alpha particles emitted during the decay of
americium-241 ionize molecules in the air that allow a
current to flow in a smoke detector. During a fire,
smoke particles that come between these two plates
interfere with the current, setting off the detector’s
alarm.
Write a balanced chemical equation showing the decay
of americium-241 into an alpha particle and another
product.
2. Beta Radiation - a high-speed electron emitted from an unstable nucleus; the result of the
change of a neutron to a proton during a nuclear reaction. A stream of beta particles is called beta
radiation. Beta decay is when a nucleus ejects a beta particle.
Beta particles come from the nucleus – when a
neutron is converted to a proton.
Practice: Write the beta decay of carbon-14.
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3. Gamma Radiation - Gamma radiation consists of photons with no mass or charge.
Gamma radiation is usually accompanied by
alpha or beta radiation.
Practice: Write a balanced nuclear equation to describe the emission of beta and gamma radiation
from a cobalt-60 source.
The graphic below shows that alpha radiation is
stopped by a sheet of paper, wood stops beta
particles, but lead or concrete are required to stop
gamma rays.
4. Nuclear Fission
A nuclear reaction in which a large nucleus splits
into smaller nuclei or particles. It occurs when a large
element is struck by neutron and is able to break down
into two smaller fission products and three neutrons.
There is an extremely high amount of energy released,
much more than in a chemical reaction.
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Example - If uranium-235 undergoes nuclear fission it will produce 3 neutrons, krypton-92, and
barium-141. Write the equation below.
5. Nuclear Fusion
Two smaller nuclei are joined
together (or fused) to form a larger nucleus, with the
simultaneous release of energy.
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8.1 Homework
Read ALL OF SECTION 1.4 in the textbook on Nuclear Energy!
p.503-517 #26-36 and 40
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Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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Lesson 8.2 – Nuclear Energy
Sustainability – ________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Canada and the rest of the world are trying to come up with sustainable sources of energy.
Is Nuclear Power the answer?
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Powers use the principles of ____________________________________ we looked at last
lesson in a chain reaction.
A ______________________________________________ occurs when one reaction causes one or
more nuclear reactions, thus leading to a _________________________________________ of these
reactions. The specific nuclear reaction may be the fission of heavy isotopes (e.g. 235U). The
nuclear chain reaction is unique since it releases several ____________________________________
____________________________ per reaction than any chemical reaction.
Nuclear Reactor
Products of a fission reaction have large quantities of
kinetic energy. A nuclear power plant enables the
release of _____________________________________
allowing it to be transformed into useful electricity.
Nuclear power plants are similar to fossil fuel power
plants in that they are both thermal sources of
electricity.
__________________________ stands for "Canada
Deuterium Uranium". It is a pressurized heavy-water
power reactor designed first in the late 1950s by a consortium of Canadian government and private
industry. ________________________________________________________ are of the CANDU type.
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Nuclear Fuel has the key advantages of:
 Not producing CO2, SO2, and NOx pollutants like fossil fuel plants
 Allowing for large returns on the reaction compared to the amount of uranium available.
However nuclear fuel produces radioactive waste that needs to be stored for hundreds-thousands
of years. In addition, there exists a possibility of nuclear terrorism or a meltdown.
The Possible Future: Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear _____________ occurs in stars under incredible temperatures and pressure to fuse together
light elements into heavier elements, in the process producing enormous amounts of energy. If we
could harness this power in a power plant we could solve our worldwide energy problem.
Currently, we are a long way off of this becoming a reality…
News Article – EU Nuclear Fusion Plants and NK
Amount of Energy released in different reactions
Phase < Chemical <
Nuclear Fission < Nuclear
Fusion
Energy Release in Nuclear Reactions
Albert Einstein drew a link between mass and energy in one of the world’s most famous equations.
(p.514 of text)
Now, we can see that any difference between the masses of the products and reactants of a process
must be the result of mass having been converted into energy. Remember, this is only the
unaccounted for mass or the mass that seems to have “disappeared” from existence…
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Practice Problems (p.514-515 text)
1. In a fission reaction of 1 mol of beryllium-8 the mass of the products is determined to the 2.29x10-5 kg
less than the mass of the reactants. Calculate the change in energy that corresponds with this change in
mass. Identify whether this reaction is exothermic or endothermic.
2. Use the “Masses of Subatomic Particles and Radiation” from the Data Booklet to calculate the change in
mass between reactants and products in beta decay. Identify whether the reaction is endothermic or
exothermic.
3. The fission of uranium-235 that occurs in a CANDU reactor involves the following reaction:
Calculate the change in mass between the reactants and products for this reaction and the corresponding
energy change.
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8.2 Homework
p.512 #37-41 and p.519 #1-8
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Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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8.3 – Alternative Types of Energy
Besides Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Energy, there are many alternative types of energy.
Renewable Resources








Hydroelectric
Wind
Geothermal Heat
Tidal and Wave
Solar (Passive)
Solar (Active – Photovoltaic Cells)
Biomass
Hydrogen Fuel
Non-Renewable Resources


Fossil Fuels
Nuclear Energy
For each of the above types of alternative energies, research how they work, how energy cycles
through, and list some advantages and disadvantages for each. You are responsible for
knowing ALL OF THE ABOVE alternative types of energy.
Renewable energy - comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human
timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat
Non-renewable – Resources that do not renew at a sufficient rates in human time-frames.
Homework
-
Complete the Energy Source Summary Assignment and hand-in to Mr. McKennitt
(either through the portal or drop-off folder)
-
Study for your quiz (Chapter 7 and 8) – Quiz is on Friday, May 2nd
Science 30 – Energy and The Environment (Unit D)
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After you complete the energy source assignment, you may wish to work on this optional
review as you are expected to know in detail all the energy sources you researched.
You may wish to summarize on a separate sheet for your own notes as part of your review.
Note this activity is optional and only for extra review or practice (I am not taking it in)
Energy
Source
Non-renewable
or
Renewable
WIND
renewable
Where does the
energy originate?
Advantages of using
this source
Unequal solar warming of
many wind places,
Earth’s surface and
relatively cheap, no
atmosphere produces wind. emissions
Disadvantages of
using this source
intermittent, possible
hazard to birds and bats,
noise, light flickering
NUCLEAR
BIOMASS
FOSSIL FUEL
(COAL,
PETROLEUM,
NATURAL GAS)
TIDAL & WAVE
SOLAR
(Passive and
Active)
HYDROELECTRIC
GEOTHERMAL
HYDOGEN FUEL
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