scientist

Science Role

As the role of scientist you are responsible to become expert on how the two types of plants generate power. Also you should become familiar with the two different types of fuel and how they are refined as well as what the waste products for each. Questions have been listed below to guide you on your quest to become the science expert.

Coal Plants:

1. What are the different types of coal and which one is now the predominant one used in coal burning power plants?

2. How much coal is required to run the plant each day?

3. What is the design of a coal burning power plant? How many acres of land are needed for a typical power plant?

4. How does the size of the plant relate to the power output of the plant?

5. What natural resources should the plant be built next to in order for the plant to function properly?

6. What are the waste products of the plant, what amount of each waste product is created and how long does each waste product exist in the environment?

7. Are there any methods to make the process cleaner and how do they work?

Helpful links:

http://www.canadiancleanpowercoalition.com (Canadian Power web site)

http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu (Paper by F. Peterson, Professor)

http://www.eia.doe.gov (Department of Energy web site)

http://www.ornl.gov (Department of Energy satellite lab)

http://ge.ecomagination.com/ (General Electric web site)

Nuclear Plants:

1. What is the design of a nuclear power plant? How many acres of land are needed for a typical power plant?

2. What is the fuel that is used in a nuclear power plant? How is the fuel processed and refined and how much fuel is needed to power the plant?

3. How does the number of reactors in a plant affect the amount of power that the plant can generate?

4. What natural resources should the plant be built next to in order for the plant to function properly?

5.What are the waste products of the plant, what amount of each waste product is created and how long does each waste product exist in the environment?

6. Are there any methods to make the process cleaner and how do they work?

Helpful Links:

1. http://www.southerncompany.com/southern nuclear (Energy company)

2. http://www.nucleartourist.com (Nuclear company)

3. http://library.thinkquest.org (Think quest)

4. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu (Georgia State University)

5. http://www.history.rochester.edu (University of Rochester)

6. http://www.chernobyl.info (UN web page)

7. http://www.epa.gov/solar/nuc.htm (EPA site)

8. http://www.anawa.org.au/mining/index.html (Anti-nuclear site)

9. http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/ur-enrichment.html (NRC web site)

Click here for printable version of questions.

Summary Sheet