Learn to TEACH English with TECHNOLOGY. Free course for American TESOL students.


TESOL certification course online recognized by TESL Canada & ACTDEC UK.

Visit Driven Coffee Fundraising for unique school fundraising ideas.





Texas ISD School Guide
Texas ISD School Guide







Short Stories for Teachers

What is the History of Nuclear Energy?
By:Jason Chavis

Nuclear energy was discovered in the mid-twentieth century and first utilized in a military capacity in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The implementation of nuclear energy as a source of power was slow to come to fruition, but ultimately became an integral part of the world's power source. With the oil crisis of the 1970's, nuclear power was the preferred method of new energy development, but dangerous meltdowns created a culture of fear amongst the world.

History
Enrico Fermi first experimented with nuclear fission in 1934 when he bombarded uranium with neutrons. Scientists soon realized that the neutrons split the nucleus of the uranium atoms and that if the resulting fission could release more neutrons, a sustainable nuclear chain reaction would result. Major governments around the world began to invest in the nuclear research.

On December 2, 1942, the first man-made nuclear reactor came on line in Chicago as part of the Manhattan Project, a widespread attempt by the U.S. government to research nuclear power. The implementation of plutonium led to creation of the first nuclear weapons. A uranium based explosive named "little boy" and the plutonium based "fat man" were dropped on Japan in 1945 to end World War II.

Significance
The existence of the atom bomb ushered the world into a new age of energy research. In the United States, the research was kept confidential as to hide the information from enemy governments. Scientists in the early days worked primarily on military applications. In 1951, energy was produced by a nuclear reactor, prompting President Dwight D. Eisenhower a few years later to give his "Atoms for Peace" speech in which he called for the peaceful implementation of nuclear power for the world.

By 1954, the U.S.S.R. Was generating electricity for its power grid. At the first Geneva conference in 1955, the European Economic Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency were launched in order to promote a safe and sustainable nuclear powered world.

By the 1970's and the oil crisis, countries were moving in the direction of establishing many nuclear power plants to meet the world's energy needs. France was on the forefront, ultimately creating a system that was responsible for 80% of its energy needs.

Considerations
When fossil fuel costs fell in the 1980's, demand for nuclear energy wained with the fears of radiation and nuclear proliferation by rogue countries. Nuclear weapons became larger and deadlier in the throws of the Cold War, ultimately enough nuclear weapons were present to destroy the planet many times over. Other countries began to develop nuclear power for use and the IAEA began to monitor those countries to prevent the creation of weapons grade plutonium. Nuclear reactors had been being installed in submarines and naval ships in NATO and the Soviet Union for years, creating whole fleets running on nuclear energy.






Go to another board -