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Discover the science behind nuclear energy and its role in energy provision in the past, present and future. With the need to reduce carbon emissions around the world, the way we generate our power has to change and nuclear energy is back on the political agenda. But do you know your fission from your fusion? Would you like the knowledge to make an informed decision?
This course includes
Hours of videos
1 day, 22 hours
Units & Quizzes
92
Unlimited Lifetime access
Access on mobile app
Certificate of Completion
Course Overview
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:-
understand the physics of nuclear fusion
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understand how a nuclear power station works
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weigh up and debate potential solutions to the problems associated with nuclear power
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assess the energy needs today and the part that nuclear power has to play
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identify current and future technologies.
Course Currilcum
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- Introduction 00:10:00
- 1.1 The structure of atoms 00:45:00
- 1.1.1 Isotopes 00:35:00
- 1.1.2 Common isotopes 00:45:00
- 1.1.3 Structure of atoms 00:25:00
- 1.1.4 The nature of the nucleus 00:25:00
- 1.2 Radioactive atoms 00:45:00
- 1.2.2 Alpha, beta and gamma radiation 00:50:00
- 1.2.3 Doses of radiation 00:40:00
- 1.2.4 Precise doses of radiation 00:25:00
- 1.2.5 Some uses of radioactivity 00:55:00
- 1.2.6 Myths of radiation 00:35:00
- 1.2.7 Ideas about radioactivity 00:25:00
- 1.3 Nuclear processes 00:25:00
- 1.3.1 Uranium 00:35:00
- 1.3.2 Isotope trumps! 00:35:00
- 1.3.3 What is fission? 00:30:00
- 1.3.4 The chain reaction 00:40:00
- 1.3.5 Energy from fission 00:50:00
- 1.3.6 The early days of fission 00:35:00
- Week 1 Quiz 00:20:00
- 1.5 Summary of Week 1 00:15:00
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- 2.1 Energy and power 00:55:00
- 2.1.1 What uses most energy in the home? 00:25:00
- 2.1.2 Human power station 01:00:00
- 2.1.3 Generating electricity 00:55:00
- 2.1.4 Energy sources 01:00:00
- 2.1.5 Running the National Grid 00:25:00
- 2.1.6 The National Grid 00:20:00
- 2.1.6 The National Grid 00:20:00
- 2.1.7 Peak output 00:30:00
- 2.2 Components of a nuclear power station 01:20:00
- 2.2.1 Looking inside a nuclear reactor 00:25:00
- 2.2.2 Inside a nuclear reactor 00:30:00
- 2.2.3 Types of nuclear reactor 00:45:00
- 2.2.4 The world’s nuclear power stations 00:40:00
- 2.3 Waste produced by nuclear power 00:40:00
- 2.3.1 Half-life 01:05:00
- 2.3.2 Types of radioactive waste 01:05:00
- 2.3.3 Decommissioning at Dounreay 00:55:00
- 2.3.4 What can be done with nuclear waste? 00:35:00
- 2.3.5 Solution: reuse 00:40:00
- 2.3.6 Solution: transmutation 00:45:00
- 2.3.7 Solution: deep geological repository 00:55:00
- 2.3.8 Case study: Yucca mountain 00:40:00
- Quiz for week 2 00:30:00
- 2.5 Summary of Week 2 00:10:00
- References 00:10:00
- 3.1 Atomic men! 00:30:00
- 3.1.1 What can go wrong in a nuclear power station? 00:40:00
- 3.1.2 Accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl 00:30:00
- 3.1.3 Errors 00:05:00
- 3.1.4 Clean-up at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl 00:20:00
- 3.2 The Fukushima Daiichi reactor 00:20:00
- 3.2.1 What caused the meltdown at Fukushima? 00:35:00
- 3.2.2 Hydrogen explosions demonstration 00:40:00
- 3.2.3 Inside the Daiichi power plant 00:25:00
- 3.2.4 Exclusion zone 00:25:00
- 3.2.5 Clean-up of Iitate 00:30:00
- 3.2.6 Fukushima level 7 00:30:00
- 3.2.7 Fukushima – six months later 00:45:00
- 3.3 Fukushima – water issues 00:10:00
- 3.3.1 Fukushima – ongoing challenges 00:30:00
- 3.3.3 Chernobyl today – the reactor 00:25:00
- 3.3.4 Chernobyl today – exclusion zone 00:40:00
- 3.3.5 Chernobyl today – health effects 00:50:00
- 3.3.6 What have we learned? 00:30:00
- Quiz for Week 3 00:10:00
- 3.5 Summary of Week 3 00:10:00
- What is an atom? 00:30:00
- Isotopes and Atomic Mass 00:30:00
- Test 00:50:00
