You must be familiar with the production of electricity from nuclear energy, let us now discuss how the conversion of electrical energy to nuclear energy takes place.
Electrical energy can supply the energized electrons transited by the electric current that can bombard with nuclei of the atom and emits neutrons and particles giving away the nuclear energy along with them.
How are Electrical Energy and Nuclear Energy Related?
Nuclear energy exists in the core of an atom which is released on the deformation of the nucleus of an atom.
The electrical energy is produced from the free available electrons in an orbit while the nuclear energy is present at the core of an atom where the neutron inhabits which upon deformation changes the atomic configuration and the nuclear force.
The agility of the electrons produces the electric current. The energy stored at the core of an atom is very difficult to obtain because it is well protected and stored at the nuclei of an atom and hence to obtain that the particle that could be an electron moving with high energy bombards the core of the atom.
How is Electrical energy converted to Nuclear Energy?
Electrical energy is created due to the energy received by the free electrons in the matter.
The electrical energy supplies the energized particles to the atom which reacts with its nucleus supplying the kinetic energy of the electron enough to bind with the atom to deform the nuclei.
Electrical energy can be converted into heat energy. This heat energy is grasped by the atoms and may deform the nuclei of the atom releasing the nuclear energy.
When Electrical Energy is converted to Nuclear Energy?
The electrical energy is converted to nuclear energy by passing the electric current to the cluster of atoms.
As the free electrons collide with the nuclei of an atom, the electric energy is supplied to the nuclei and it gets recoil and emits the extra energy which is called binding energy in the form of neutrons and protons and becomes the most stable atom.
The electrons move with kinetic energy on the conversion of the electrical energy, this kinetic energy is converted into the nuclear energy if the kinetic energy of the free moving electron is enough to deform the nucleus of an atom.
Where is Electrical Energy converted to Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear energy is formed within the reactor chamber and is emitted from the nuclear of the atom.
The electrical energy will be converted to nuclear energy as the electrical energy is incident on the atom and deforms the nuclei of an atom.
If the cluster of nuclei is shot with the electron gun, then the electrical energy incident from the kinetic energy of the electron will react with the atom. If these electrons succeed in crossing the barrier of the electrons in orbit then they will collide and deform the nucleus releasing its energy.
Electrical Energy to Nuclear Energy Formula
The electrical energy is produced by the motion of the free electrons in the conducting material, and the energy produced by the accelerating electrons is
E=qV
Where q is the charge of the particles and V is a potential difference.
Since the charge is the current produced in a given time, then
E=ItV
This is used to produce the nuclear energy equal to
E=mc2
Nuclear energy is equal to the binding energy required to bind the atomic structure together after the deformation of the atom due to the bombarding of the electrons.
Electrical Energy to Nuclear Energy Efficiency
The efficiency of the conversion of electrical energy to nuclear energy is how much nuclear energy is produced from the application of electrical energy.
The efficiency of the electrical energy to nuclear energy is given by the equation
Using this formula we can calculate the efficiency of the conversion of electrical energy to nuclear energy.
Electrical Energy to Nuclear Energy Examples
Here is a list of examples of electrical energy to nuclear energy examples are:-
Welding
The rod gets heated up on supplying electrical energy. On application of heat energy, the electrons get excited which upon striking discharges the electrical glow forming the ionized gas.
Thundering
The electrons get discharged from the cloud as the water molecules condensed into the cloud gain enough potential energy and the rain showers.
Vehicle
Nuclear fuels are combustible by the application of the electrical energy supplied to the vehicles. The engine runs on the nuclear energy which is gained by the combustion of the nuclear fuel.
Magma Formation
The magma is formed by burning the rock matter under great pressure and temperature moves depending upon the pressure difference generated in a matter.
The movement of ions produces an eddy current that supplies additional sources for nuclear energy to release.
Incineration
It is a technique used to turn the waste into ash by supplying electric energy. The fusion of the atoms releases the heat energy utilized again for the incineration process.
Steam
The electrical energy supplies the heat energy which is grasped by the liquid molecules and breaks the bond between the molecules thus transforming into the vapor phase.
Radioactivity
The electrical energy is converted into heat energy which can increase the rate of radioactivity. The electrical energy provides a free source of energy to excite the free electrons and hence even deform the nuclei commuting to fast radioactive decay.
Food Treatment
The electrical energy is converted into nuclear energy which is used to find out whether the food is contaminated or not.
Semiconductors
The uranium oxides base semiconductors are widely used in industries because of their good electric conductivity and properties. Uranium is a radioactive element and hence the energy produced by the excitement of a single particle is very high.
Bulbs
The electric current passing through the filament excites the electrons and emits the photons from the nuclei and radiates the light. The photons are released on the conversion of the electrical energy which provides energy for atoms and makes them unstable.
Nuclear Imaging Technique
This technique is used to scan the entire body organs by converting electrical energy into nuclear energy. It helps in detecting if there is any fault in the internal organs of the body.
PET scanner
This is also a technique used to study the metabolism of the body using radioactive elements. A positron emitted from the element is captured that carries information from the internal organ and is studied.
Chemotherapy
The rays are made incident on the cancerous cell that kills the dead cells, this is achieved by converting the electrical energy into the nuclear energy.
X-ray Scanning
Here also the electrical energy is passed to pass the radiation in the range of 0.01-10 nm through a radioactive element that is implanted in a device.
Wristwatch
It has a battery that supplies electrical energy to the wristwatch and many wristwatches have a small crystal of radium that emits light during dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
How nuclear energy can produce electrical energy?
The nuclear reactor produces a huge amount of energy and along with it produces heat energy.
This energy is used to run the turbine and produce electricity. The amount of heat generated is released in the seawater that makes seawater evaporate into steam that runs the turbine.
What is the process called for the emission of nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy persists in the core of an atom which is nuclear.
This energy is released by two methods, either fission or fusion, and is obtained only by deformation of the nucleus. Hence a great amount of energy has to be incident on the atom enough to deform the nucleus.
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Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.