Knowra Nuclear engineering Nuclear engineering Nuclear engineering applies engineering principles to nuclear reactions, radiation, and radioactive materials. It encompasses systems for energy production, medical treatment, research, and nuclear safety.
Nuclear reactor : A system that sustains and controls a nuclear chain reaction, usually to produce heat or neutron beams. Reactor design brings neutron behavior, fuel, cooling, and control together.
Nuclear power plant : An industrial facility that converts energy from nuclear reactions into electricity. It integrates a reactor with turbines, generators, cooling, and safety systems.
Radioactivity : The spontaneous transformation of unstable atomic nuclei, accompanied by emitted particles or electromagnetic radiation. Radioactive decay governs source strength, heat generation, and waste behavior.
Nuclear safety : The protection of people and the environment from hazards associated with nuclear installations and materials. Safety analysis informs design requirements, operating limits, and emergency provisions.
Coal-fired power station : A power plant that generates electricity by burning coal to produce steam and drive turbines. It shares steam-cycle equipment with many nuclear plants but uses combustion instead of fission.
Nuclear fission : The splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into lighter nuclei, often releasing neutrons and energy. Fission supplies the energy and neutrons used in most power reactors.
Nuclear medicine : A medical specialty that uses radioactive substances for diagnosis and treatment. Engineered sources and detectors make nuclear technologies useful in clinical care.
Ionizing radiation : Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules. Its interactions with matter underpin both radiation applications and protection requirements.
Nuclear reactor accident : An event involving a nuclear reactor that causes damage, loss of control, or release of radioactive material. Accidents expose how failures in equipment, procedures, or safeguards can interact.
Renewable energy : Energy obtained from sources replenished naturally on human timescales, such as sunlight, wind, and flowing water. Renewables provide a contrasting set of generation technologies and resource constraints.
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