Nuclear Processes at Millstone Power Station

Task Overview

The Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, Connecticut generates a massive portion of Connecticut’s electricity. In this task, you will use the Millstone Nuclear Fission Simulator to investigate the fission of Uranium-235, compare the energy released to chemical processes, and evaluate the competing design solutions for managing this energy resource.

Performance Expectations:

• HS-PS1-8: Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.
• HS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.

Part 1: Modeling Nuclear Fission

1. Open the Millstone Nuclear Fission Simulator.
2. Click Trigger Reaction.
3. Observe the animation and click through the analysis tabs to read the provided scientific explanation.

Questions:

1. Describe the initial state of the Uranium-235 nucleus before the reaction occurs. What must happen to trigger the fission process?
2. Identify the products of the fission reaction shown in the simulator. How do the total mass numbers (protons + neutrons) of the products compare to the reactants? Explain why this happens.
3. The simulator describes the energy output as “Extremely High” and notes it is ~200 MeV per event. Compare this to a typical chemical reaction, such as burning a molecule of coal (carbon) in a pizza oven, which releases roughly 4 eV. How many times more energy is released in a single U-235 fission event compared to burning a single carbon atom? What does this massive difference in energy scale imply about the efficiency of nuclear power plants like Millstone compared to fossil fuel plants?

Part 2: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power plants, like the Millstone Power Station in Connecticut, provide a significant amount of the region’s electricity without emitting greenhouse gases during operation. However, they also produce radioactive waste (spent nuclear fuel) that remains hazardous for thousands of years.

1. Benefits: What are the primary environmental and economic benefits of generating electricity using nuclear fission at a facility like Millstone, especially when considering the global need to reduce carbon emissions to mitigate climate change?
2. Risks & Costs: Describe the long-term geopolitical and environmental risks associated with storing spent nuclear fuel. Why is finding a permanent solution for this waste so challenging?
3. Evaluation: Based on your understanding of the massive energy output of fission (Part 1) and the risks associated with radioactive waste, perform a cost-benefit analysis. Do you think the benefits of carbon-free electricity generation outweigh the long-term risks of storing spent nuclear fuel? Defend your position using specific evidence from the simulator and your knowledge of energy resources.