Any help with the following questions would be greatly appreciated!

1) What is the fuel source in nuclear power plants? How is that energy harvested from the source?

2) How does the fuel source used in power plants differ from the fuel source used in nuclear bombs?

3) What other than as an energy source is nuclear radiation used for?

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/nuclear.html

Thanks. That answered the first one!

2) The fuel source in a nuclear power plants is controlled (we hope) but nuclear weapons are made to go wild.

3) Two that come to mind quickly are
a. irradiation of food for killing bacteria.
b. nuclear medicine (bone scans, heart scans, etc).

Oh! That makes sense. Thank you!

The fuel for nuclear bombs is produced as a byproduct of nuclear power plants.

I'm glad I could help! Here is some additional information to further explain the answers to your questions.

1) In nuclear power plants, the fuel source used is uranium or plutonium. These elements are highly unstable and contain a large amount of potential energy. This energy is released through a process called nuclear fission, where the atomic nucleus of a fuel atom is split into two smaller nuclei. This splitting releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat.

To harvest this energy, nuclear power plants use a chain reaction. They bombard the fuel with neutrons, which causes the nuclei of the atoms to split, releasing energy. This energy is converted into heat, which is then used to produce steam. The steam drives a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity.

2) The fuel source used in power plants differs from the fuel source used in nuclear bombs mainly in terms of purity and control. In power plants, the fuel is enriched uranium or mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which contains a lower concentration of fissile isotopes. These isotopes are the ones capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction. The fuel in power plants is specifically designed to sustain a controlled chain reaction to continuously generate power.

On the other hand, the fuel for nuclear bombs is highly enriched uranium or plutonium, containing a much higher concentration of fissile isotopes. The purpose of these weapons is to create an uncontrolled chain reaction, causing a rapid release of energy in the form of an explosion.

3) Nuclear radiation has various applications besides being an energy source. Two common examples are:

a. Food Irradiation: Nuclear radiation can be used to irradiate food products to help kill bacteria, parasites, and insects. This process can increase the shelf life of food, reduce spoilage, and improve food safety.

b. Nuclear Medicine: Nuclear radiation is also utilized in several medical procedures. For example, radioactive isotopes are used in diagnostic imaging techniques like bone scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and heart scans. These isotopes emit radiation that is detected by specialized cameras to help diagnose and monitor various medical conditions.

If you need more information or have any further questions, feel free to ask!