ATOMIC ENERGY

With the increase in world population man's energy requirement has also increased. The limit to the traditional sources of energy has made it imperative for man to find out new sources of energy. The wind, the sun, the tidal waves and the atom are some of the new and non-traditional sources of energy.

Atomic or nuclear energy is obtained by splitting the heavy nucleus (Central core of an atom) of some metals like Uranium or Plutonium or by combining light nuclei of some substances like Hydrogen or Deuterium. The process of splitting is called fission and the process of combining is called fusion.

When a nucleus of the metal Uranium or Plutonium is bombarded with a Neutron (an electrically neutral particle of nucleus), it splits. If there is sufficient amount (called critical mass) of the metal, the fission takes the form of a chain reaction as a result of which the nuclei of all the atoms split within a fraction of a second. There is violent explosion and enormous energy is released in the form of light, heat and radiation.

The chain reaction which takes place by fission in the destructive device like an atom bomb is uncontrolled. When scientists succeeded in controlling the chain reaction, it was possible to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Generation of atomic energy through controlled chain reaction is undertaken in a plant called atomic or nuclear reactor. In an atomic reactor heat produced by the fission is used to generate electricity. Scientists have yet not been able to control fusion.

An atomic reactor uses less fuel than a thermal power plant using coal or oil. But the reactor is costly and hazardous. An accident, as the one which took place recently at Chernobyl in Russia may spread radiation far and wide, taking a heavy toll of lives. Again, scientists have not yet found a way to dispose of the radio-active waste of an atomic reactor. Because of such risks people in many parts of the world are opposing the establishment of atomic reactors.