NUCLEAR KNOWLEDGE

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Nuclear is basically the name of a physico-chemical reaction involving an atomic nucleus. So, how could the atom's nuclei release such a massive energy? and destructive? So let's find out.
August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-1945), the US B29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb made in the world, targeting one of the cities in Japan, Hiroshima.
The explosion wiped out 90% of the entire city and killed 80,000 people instantly, the remaining 10,000 will eventually also be killed by exposure to radioactive radiation caused by the explosion.
Three days later, the second B-29 plane dropped the 2nd atomic bomb in the city of Nagasaki, 40,000 souls hovered at once. Finally, the Japanese Emperor at that time "Hirohito" declared unconditional surrender to the allies in World War II. The announcement was made on radio on August 15, ending the bloodiest conflict in human history as well as beginning a New Era in science and weapons (Atomic Era).

1. Why does Greenpeace fight nuclear?

Greenpeace will always work hard - and keep fighting - to combat the use of nuclear power as an energy solution, because of the risk to the environment and life that can not be tolerated. The proponents of the nuclear industry are trying to exploit the problem of climate change to revive its dimmer industry. Their argument is always that nuclear power is a safe, secure and cheap way to tackle global climate change and energy crisis.
In fact, nuclear power undermines the real solution to climate change by diverting much-needed investment to clean and renewable and efficient energy sources.
Nuclear power is expensive and dangerous, as it could lead to a growing nuclear weapons propagation race, a threat to global security. Even if there are advantages of nuclear, it will be too little, too late, and too expensive.

1. How is nuclear energy created?

A molecule, the smallest part of a chemical element, consists of at least two atoms. One atom consists of electrons, neutrons and protons. Neutrons and protons together are called atomic nuclei or "nucleus". If the "nucleus" of this atom contains more neutrons than protons, it is unstable and will excrete particles in an attempt to stabilize itself. The process of particle emission and electromagnetic waves is called radioactivity. The radioactive substance of the unstable atom is ionizing radiation.
The big and heavy atoms in nature are the unstable types of atoms, because they are so radiative. One example of this unstable atom is uranium. If a nucleus of an unstable atom captures a neutron, this atom will divide. This process is called fission. This fission process produces a chain reaction in which the neutrons released from the fission process add to the fission inside, at least to one other nucleus. This division produces gamma-ray radiation, a form of lethal nuclear radiation and contains very high energy levels.
In a nuclear reactor, the chain reactions need to be controlled so that no harmful reaction occurs in the nuclear weapons explosion.
The energy produced from this fission process is used to heat water to become water vapor. At this stage, the function of nuclear power plants is actually the same as traditional power plants that use fossil fuels, such as oil, or coal. Power generated by water vapor to drive the turbine, which then supplies power to a generator to generate electricity. All nuclear reactors that use steam as turbine actors work on the same principle.

1. What uranium alone can be used as nuclear fuel?

The civil nuclear power plant utilizes the energy from the uranium produced during the fission process, as described above. Before uranium can be used as nuclear fuel, it needs to go through several processes first.
Natural uranium must be extracted (mined) from within the earth just like any other mine. However, unlike other mining goods, uranium is a radiative element. As a result, all aspects related to uranium fuel production, from mining, processing, and enrichment, to transportation, have potentially damaging effects on the environment and health. On average each uranium ore contains only 0.1% uranium. Most of the other materials that were separated at the time of uranium ore mining were toxic, hazardous, and radiative.
Naturally, the uranium found in uranium deposits in nature can be radiant (unstable) Uranium-235 (U-235) and stable U-238. In order to be used in the reactor, the uranium must undergo a process of "enrichment", which means that the amount of uranium undergoes a process of adding the percentage of radiative U-235 element and U-235 needs to be separated from U-238.
For standard civilian power plants, the uranium content must be increased from 0.7% to reach 3% to 5% U-235. This process is called uranium enrichment. The enriched uranium is then crushed into smaller parts and placed in a long iron rod. The stems are then collected into a single bundle.
The process of fission or atomic division of uranium fuel will produce elements of high levels of radiation such as cesium and strontium which are very dangerous.

1. He said Indonesia has a reserve of uranium, right?

Yes, but the uranium reserves in Indonesia (in Borneo precisely), are of good quality, because the presence of its U-235 element is not sufficient for enrichment. Although uranium is quite abundant in this world, the U-235 percentage should be at least 0.7% enrichment or enrichment process. This means it will be too expensive and inefficient. If Indonesia uses nuclear power plants, its uranium needs to be imported from Australia to further enriched in Japan or Russia before it can be used here.

1. What is radiation?

As the atoms are broken down, enormous amounts of energy are released. It is simply like this that nuclear power is explained. It sounds very tame, but nuclear production produces dangerous ionizing radioactive material.
Radiation is energy that runs in the form of waves. Ionizing radiation produces unpredictable chemical reactions, including electromagnetic waves and particles. Humans can not see, feel, smell, or hear ionizing radiation. There is a natural source of ionizing radiation that can not be avoided. This radiation is called "background radiation" or background radiation. In addition to this natural radiation, there are also radiations created by humans, for their individual purposes, such as medical, food, weapons, and energy. However, the exposure of human created humor is a tablet that can be worrying for humans themselves and the environment, because it is associated with gene mutations, birth defects, cancer, leukemia, reproductive disorders, immunity, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems.
There are four types of radiation; Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and X-ray, with their own characteristics and risk content. Most dangerous is the Alpha radiation. This radiation can not penetrate our skin, but once inhaled, swallowed, or entered through the wound, can enter cells in the organs or blood that is very damaging to the surrounding area. Examples of Alpha emulsifiers are Plutonium, Radon gas, Uranium, and Americium.
High radiation emissions are very harmful to humans and the environment, not just now, but still impacting for hundreds of thousands of years!

1. What is the nuclear meltdown?

The process of nuclear fission is a very complex and risky process. If there is a problem or damage inside the reactor core, chances are he will overheat and melt. If a reactor melts there will be a massive release of radiation. Due to very high temperatures, it is possible that the reactor core building building, made of metal and / or cement, will be damaged, resulting in high radiation emitted into the surrounding environment with very severe consequences.
There are enough reasons why an accident could occur in a nuclear power plant. The most severe meltdown accident was Chernobyl in 1986 in Ukraine, formerly part of the Soviet Union. Chernobyl was recorded in history as the worst civilian nuclear disaster in the world. At the time of the disaster, 56 people died and about 600,000 people were exposed to radiation at a significant rate. We can never know the exact number of casualties but estimated at over 93,000.
In our comics, the term 'Nuclear Meltdown' is used as a metaphor for describing hazards and all nuclear-related risks, whether from weapons, nuclear power plants or waste.

Reference :

1. https://justmyhobby.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/mengenal-lebih-jauh-tentang-nuklir-foto-video/
2. http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/id/campaigns/akhir-dari-zaman-nuklir/Komik_anti-nuklir/nuklir_dan_komik_Nuklir/