Energy Resources and Transfer: Nuclear, Wind and Geothermal Power

Nuclear Power:

Nuclear power is generated through a process called nuclear fission, where the nucleus of a large and unstable atom, like uranium-235 or plutonium-239, is split into two smaller ones, releasing a large amount of energy.
This energy is transferred as heat to water, which is turned into steam. This steam drives a turbine linked to an electrical generator.
Nuclear power is very efficient, one kilogram of uranium-235 contains about three million times the energy of a kilogram of coal.

Wind Power:

Wind power is produced by wind turbines which convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy and then electrical energy.
Wind farms are often located in coastal areas or on high hills and curves where the wind is strongest.
A downside to wind power is that it is dependent on the weather, if there’s no wind, there’s no electricity production.

Geothermal Power:

Geothermal energy comes from the heat stored underneath the Earth’s surface.
Drill holes are made deep into the ground to access hot rocks or steam reservoirs.
The heat is used to convert water into steam which drives a turbine connected to a generator.
Unlike wind and solar power, geothermal energy is reliable and consistent as it does not depend on weather conditions.

Energy Transfer:

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. This is referred to as the Law of Conservation of Energy.
In thermal energy transfers, an object is heated to increase its thermal energy. This energy is then transferred from the hotter object to the cooler one until they reach a thermal equilibrium.
Radiators and car engines are examples of energy transfers. The energy travels from a hotter body to a cooler body, in the process changing form or transferring.
In electricity, energy is transferred from an energy source like a battery, along a conductor like a copper wire, and eventually to an electrical device like a light bulb where energy is transformed into light.