tuumaenergeetikat

Tuumaenergeetika, also known as nuclear energy, is a field of engineering and physics that deals with the production and application of energy released from atomic nuclei through nuclear reactions. These reactions can be either nuclear fission, where a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei, or nuclear fusion, where light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. The most common and currently practical application of tuumaenergeetika is nuclear fission in power plants.

Nuclear power plants generate electricity by using the heat produced from nuclear fission to create steam, which then drives turbines connected to electricity generators. The primary fuel for these reactions is uranium, specifically the isotope uranium-235, which is capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction. The energy released from these reactions is significant, making nuclear power a highly efficient energy source.

The development of tuumaenergeetika began in the early 20th century with the discovery of nuclear fission by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938. This discovery led to the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction demonstrated by Enrico Fermi in 1942. The first nuclear power plant, Obninsk in the Soviet Union, began operation in 1954, marking the start of the commercial use of nuclear energy.

Tuumaenergeetika offers several advantages, including a low carbon footprint, high energy output, and reliable baseload power. However, it also faces challenges such as the management of nuclear waste, the risk of nuclear accidents, and the high costs associated with plant construction and decommissioning. Despite these challenges, nuclear energy remains a significant component of the global energy mix, providing a substantial portion of the world's electricity.