Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy

The first thing that must be done before entering fully into the definition of nuclear energy is to proceed to the establishment of the etymological origin of this term, so that we can better understand its meaning.

More exactly, we find the fact that it is made up of two words that have a different origin. Thus, the word energy comes from the Greek, from the word energon, which was the fruit of the union of the prefix in - which means "inside" and ergon that can be translated as "action".

The word nuclear, on the other hand, must be emphasized that it has its etymological origin in Latin and in particular in the concept nucleus . This has a singular meaning: "little walnut".

It is known as energy to the ability to move or transform a certain thing . It can also be a natural resource that, combined with other elements, can be used industrially.

Nuclear , on the other hand, is an adjective that mentions what belongs to or describes a nucleus . The term also provides the possibility of citing everything that is related to the energy that is born from the atomic reactions that involve processes of fissions or mergers.

It is known as nuclear energy , in this context, to the energy that is released spontaneously or artificially in nuclear reactions . Said energy can be used to generate electrical, mechanical or thermal energy.

The concept, therefore, is often used to name both the result of the nuclear reaction and the knowledge, techniques and technologies linked to the use of that energy.

Among the isotopes used by humans to operate nuclear reactors, the most common are uranium-235 (235U), thorium-232 (232Th), plutonium-239 (239Pu), strontium-90 (90Sr) or polonium-210 (210Po).

Nuclear energy is used to generate electricity or analyze archaeological pieces, for example. It also has applications in the field of medicine (nuclear medicine).

Some countries use nuclear energy for the production of bombs and other weapons. The only nation that dropped a nuclear bomb on a population was the United States , during World War II .

In particular, we are referring to the bombing that the aforementioned North American country carried out in the month of August 1945 on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The American president, Harry Truman, was the one who ordered these cited nuclear attacks, with which the aforementioned war was ended and which resulted in the death of more than 200,000 people.

A direct attack on the Empire of Japan was this action that was composed of two actions: the launching of the nuclear bomb Little Boy on the 6th in Hiroshima and the Fat Man on the day of the 9th in Nagasaki. They brought with them the mentioned number of deaths, nevertheless, it is necessary to emphasize that, although many of them took place directly with these attacks, many others took place later as a result of the illnesses and injuries that caused those bombs, such as cancers or leukemia

Due to the high risk of contamination in the event of an accident and the difficulties in storing radioactive waste, nuclear energy tends to have many detractors.