Energy & Place and Essential Questions
Science Involved in Global Climate Change/Relation to Emissions of Nuclear Power Plants
Reuben Barnes
· What is the greenhouse effect and how is it related to global climate change?
o The greenhouse effect is when gasses that can absorb the energy that is released from the sun and back out from the earth. When the sun’s rays penetrate the Earth they are absorbed by the ground, then this energy is released back out. Now some of that energy goes back in space but the rest of it is captured by greenhouse gasses that are in the atmosphere. (They collect this heat energy and hold it in the atmosphere, delaying its passage back out of the atmosphere.)These gasses are the only things that can capture the infrared rays that are released from the sun. This is necessary for our planet but at the same time if there is an excessive amount of gasses to capture heat then it will negatively affect the planet. The greenhouse effect is necessary because those gasses that are trapped inside keep the Earth warm, without it the temperature would decrease to an unlivable point; the earth would be so cold that we would freeze to death. However if there are too many gasses that are trapped in the atmosphere then it can cause a huge increase in heat, this is because when there are extra greenhouse gasses in the air they capture an excessive amount which can result with a unusual release of heat. The increase in heat is caused by all the carbon dioxide that is released into the air, with all of the machinery that requires gasoline or fossil fuels all emit a large amount of carbon dioxide. So due to all of the emissions the global climate is heated up and then unbalanced. This climate change can affect a lot of things that are on the planet, for example (Rising temperature also means melting glaciers and rising sea level through addition of melt water to the oceans. Sea level rose about 1 foot during the last century, mostly from thermal expansion of the oceans.). This increase in temperature will clearly affect us in the end which will damage our society and can be very deadly.
o
· What are greenhouse gases and what about their structure makes them greenhouse gases?
o Greenhouse gasses are certain gasses that are in the atmosphere, these gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane ozone, and nitrous oxide. Each of these absorbs the infrared radiation that is emitted from the sun. Once they have captured some of that energy they can slowly release it back into the atmosphere which then creates heat. Each one of these specific gasses are bonded by two or more molecules, now each one of these bonds are loose, so when they absorb the energy they will vibrate and can release the heat again. All other types of gasses have to tight bonds and therefore do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
o
Sites:
· "The Greenhouse Effect." Greenhouse Effect: Background Material. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
· "The Greenhouse Effect." The Greenhouse Effect. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
· http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/greenhouse.gif
· http://www.ucar.edu/learn/images/radiate.gif
·
Reuben Barnes
· What is the greenhouse effect and how is it related to global climate change?
o The greenhouse effect is when gasses that can absorb the energy that is released from the sun and back out from the earth. When the sun’s rays penetrate the Earth they are absorbed by the ground, then this energy is released back out. Now some of that energy goes back in space but the rest of it is captured by greenhouse gasses that are in the atmosphere. (They collect this heat energy and hold it in the atmosphere, delaying its passage back out of the atmosphere.)These gasses are the only things that can capture the infrared rays that are released from the sun. This is necessary for our planet but at the same time if there is an excessive amount of gasses to capture heat then it will negatively affect the planet. The greenhouse effect is necessary because those gasses that are trapped inside keep the Earth warm, without it the temperature would decrease to an unlivable point; the earth would be so cold that we would freeze to death. However if there are too many gasses that are trapped in the atmosphere then it can cause a huge increase in heat, this is because when there are extra greenhouse gasses in the air they capture an excessive amount which can result with a unusual release of heat. The increase in heat is caused by all the carbon dioxide that is released into the air, with all of the machinery that requires gasoline or fossil fuels all emit a large amount of carbon dioxide. So due to all of the emissions the global climate is heated up and then unbalanced. This climate change can affect a lot of things that are on the planet, for example (Rising temperature also means melting glaciers and rising sea level through addition of melt water to the oceans. Sea level rose about 1 foot during the last century, mostly from thermal expansion of the oceans.). This increase in temperature will clearly affect us in the end which will damage our society and can be very deadly.
o
· What are greenhouse gases and what about their structure makes them greenhouse gases?
o Greenhouse gasses are certain gasses that are in the atmosphere, these gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane ozone, and nitrous oxide. Each of these absorbs the infrared radiation that is emitted from the sun. Once they have captured some of that energy they can slowly release it back into the atmosphere which then creates heat. Each one of these specific gasses are bonded by two or more molecules, now each one of these bonds are loose, so when they absorb the energy they will vibrate and can release the heat again. All other types of gasses have to tight bonds and therefore do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
o
Sites:
· "The Greenhouse Effect." Greenhouse Effect: Background Material. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
· "The Greenhouse Effect." The Greenhouse Effect. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
· http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/greenhouse.gif
· http://www.ucar.edu/learn/images/radiate.gif
·
Statements
Reuben Barnes
Opening Statement
Ladies and Gentleman of the court, I would like to first of all state that I am against nuclear energy and the production of plants. Nuclear energy is a very risky process for it requires digging up uranium; this is a very unhealthy process for the earth because uranium is highly radioactive. When this mineral is taken from the ground it can be a potential threat to anything that it comes into contact with. This is a risk that we should not take, then there is the next issue that involves radioactivity, the waste it creates.
Once the uranium has been processed it creates a large amount of radioactive waste, this waste is extremely bad for the world. One of the problems with nuclear waste is that storing it is very difficult. If nuclear wasted is stored in the ground it could potentially leak into well waters of local towns or cities. The other issue with the waste is that it is radioactive for thousands of years.
Then there is the other dangerous factor of nuclear energy which is the case of a nuclear meltdown. This is one of the worst situations due to the fact that a nuclear core is cooled by water. If there is any situation with the system then there can be a nuclear meltdown, this will result in the breaking of the case and all of the cooling water to be released. Once this radioactive vapor is out it can cause harm to anything it comes in contact with.
Closing Statement
Something that I know the opposing team will say is that the nuclear waste can be reused and then create more energy. However there is always a step back to every solution, when this radioactive waste is reused 95% of it is reused but then 5% is left. This 5% is extremely radioactive and is very dangerous to anything. Not only that but this waste has plutonium in it, plutonium is a key factor in making nuclear bombs. We should not be taking this risk of having both radioactive and weapons grade materials, both of these are a threat to the security of the people.
Opening Statement
Ladies and Gentleman of the court, I would like to first of all state that I am against nuclear energy and the production of plants. Nuclear energy is a very risky process for it requires digging up uranium; this is a very unhealthy process for the earth because uranium is highly radioactive. When this mineral is taken from the ground it can be a potential threat to anything that it comes into contact with. This is a risk that we should not take, then there is the next issue that involves radioactivity, the waste it creates.
Once the uranium has been processed it creates a large amount of radioactive waste, this waste is extremely bad for the world. One of the problems with nuclear waste is that storing it is very difficult. If nuclear wasted is stored in the ground it could potentially leak into well waters of local towns or cities. The other issue with the waste is that it is radioactive for thousands of years.
Then there is the other dangerous factor of nuclear energy which is the case of a nuclear meltdown. This is one of the worst situations due to the fact that a nuclear core is cooled by water. If there is any situation with the system then there can be a nuclear meltdown, this will result in the breaking of the case and all of the cooling water to be released. Once this radioactive vapor is out it can cause harm to anything it comes in contact with.
Closing Statement
Something that I know the opposing team will say is that the nuclear waste can be reused and then create more energy. However there is always a step back to every solution, when this radioactive waste is reused 95% of it is reused but then 5% is left. This 5% is extremely radioactive and is very dangerous to anything. Not only that but this waste has plutonium in it, plutonium is a key factor in making nuclear bombs. We should not be taking this risk of having both radioactive and weapons grade materials, both of these are a threat to the security of the people.
Project Reflection
1. I was on the debate that focused on whether or not the US should create more nuclear power plants for a new source of energy, I was on the side that was opposed to the idea. My side was trying to prevent the people or audience from voting that nuclear energy should now be our main source of energy and that we should drop all other types of fuel.
2. From the very start I was always for nuclear energy, I believe that we should be using nuclear energy for our main source because I find it to be the most efficient and useful. I came to this decision from all the research that I did on nuclear energy and all the facts proved that nuclear energy was the right choice. In the end my decision was still the same and I still do believe that nuclear energy is a much more reliable and useful resource.
3. My decision was not swayed by any of the other classmates or discussions, even after the debates I was still strong in my belief that nuclear energy is the way we should progress in. The classmates that were opposed to my belief came up with different reasons that nuclear energy is not a good source of energy but in the end I did not think that those reasons overwhelmed all the benefits of nuclear energy.
4. For the team that was for the motion I thought that their statement about how nuclear power plants can produce huge amounts of energy with only a small piece of uranium. This was a very important part because all other types of energy require a large amount of the resource. Then on the side that was against the motion their best point was that nuclear power plants can have very large risks such as a nuclear meltdown. This also was very important cause these lead to a huge release of radioactive vapor.
5. I would like to look more into the re-usage of the nuclear waste that is leftover from the reactors. This is important to me because if we can re-use the waste then this can prove that there are even more benefits to the source of energy. I believe that if this was researched more then we could figure out how to deal with any sort of waste that is leftover.
6. I did not argue against anyone who was against my belief but it was still interesting seeing what points both sides had to make on the subject.
2. From the very start I was always for nuclear energy, I believe that we should be using nuclear energy for our main source because I find it to be the most efficient and useful. I came to this decision from all the research that I did on nuclear energy and all the facts proved that nuclear energy was the right choice. In the end my decision was still the same and I still do believe that nuclear energy is a much more reliable and useful resource.
3. My decision was not swayed by any of the other classmates or discussions, even after the debates I was still strong in my belief that nuclear energy is the way we should progress in. The classmates that were opposed to my belief came up with different reasons that nuclear energy is not a good source of energy but in the end I did not think that those reasons overwhelmed all the benefits of nuclear energy.
4. For the team that was for the motion I thought that their statement about how nuclear power plants can produce huge amounts of energy with only a small piece of uranium. This was a very important part because all other types of energy require a large amount of the resource. Then on the side that was against the motion their best point was that nuclear power plants can have very large risks such as a nuclear meltdown. This also was very important cause these lead to a huge release of radioactive vapor.
5. I would like to look more into the re-usage of the nuclear waste that is leftover from the reactors. This is important to me because if we can re-use the waste then this can prove that there are even more benefits to the source of energy. I believe that if this was researched more then we could figure out how to deal with any sort of waste that is leftover.
6. I did not argue against anyone who was against my belief but it was still interesting seeing what points both sides had to make on the subject.