CRITERION D(PHYSICS)

ATOMIC PHYSICS AND GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS

With numerous technological developments that have been happening over the years, humankind is
in a desperate struggle to seek new energy sources that can cope with the technological systems that
require a lot of energy to be manned.
Energy shortage has sparked the global energy crisis, which is the interference of the patterns of
energy systems. This interference can happen in the near future since the concentration of non-
renewable sources of energy in the world is teeming on the brink of depletion. Industries require
long-lasting sustainable energy to manufacture, process and provide services. This is only capable if
we apply atomic physics in the invention of novel, durable and sustainable energy sources.

Atomic physics is the branch of physics that entails the study of the structural complex of the
atomic nucleus and the subatomic particles inhabiting the atom.
It is primarily concerned with the configuration of the particles and how they orient themselves in
the atomic system. It also studies the different energy states of the atomic system.
Atomic physics is related with nuclear physics in that it also demystify the structural organisation of
the nucleus. The nucleus is the dense core at the centre of an atom which through radioactivity, can
liberate a lot of energy that can be harnessed to solve energy shortage around the world.
However, this cannot be simple because nuclear energy is both expensive and
dangerous(Greenpeace, n.d). Meltdown is also an inevitable conundrum coming with the production
of nuclear energy. This is highly dangerous as not causes high-energy radiations that can affect the
surrounding ecosystem.

Nevertheless atomic physics has a potential positive effect in the world energy systems and can
usher in a new era of rapid industrialisation. However this can have negative impacts on the
environment even if the world energy sources can not be possibly expended in the short-term.
Nuclear physics which is a close branch of atomic physics has been met with many different views
on how it will potentially transform energy sourcing around the world.

Nuclear physics involves the pragmatic scientific approach towards the safe production of nuclear
energy. The nuclear energy is released when two nuclear reactions occur. They are nuclear fusion
and nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion is the chemical combination of two atomic nuclei , roughly the
same mass and composition, to form one heavy nucleus. This process liberates energy which is
nuclear energy. Nuclear fission also liberates energy by the spitting of an atomic nucleus into two
lighter atomic nuclei.
All these chemical processes release energy which can be harnessed to solve energy shortage
around the world.

Nuclear fusion is the chemical process by which nuclear reactions between light elements combine
to form heavier elements.
When the interacting nuclei have lower atomic numbers , vast amounts of nuclear energy is always
released in the process.
During nuclear fusion, two very excited, very hot, very energetic hydrogen isotopes(tritium or
deuterium) collide against each other. This process leads to nuclear transmutation and liberation of
nuclear energy.
Nuclear fusion reactors often speeds up this reaction by combining light atoms that produce
byproducts such as neutron radiation and excess energy production.

In nuclear fusion, we have efficient machines that helps achieve fusion energy. They are the
magnetic confinement and inertial confinement reactors.
Magnetic confinement reactors work under the principle where the hydrogen plasma is heated and
compressed in magnetic and electric field for the hydrogen fusion to occur while inertial
confinement reactors involve the process whereby the hydrogen plasma is heated and compressed
by laser beams and high-energy ions(Kiger & Freudenrich, 2021).

Nuclear fission is the disintegration of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei such as that of
uranium and plutonium(Steinberg,2020).
The two fragments of the nucleus can be roughly the same mass.
This process is can be spontaneous or triggered by the excitation of the nucleus with a variety of
particles for example neutrons, alpha particles, proton or deuterons. Deuteron is the nucleus of a
deuterium atom comprising of a neutron and a proton.
Electromagnetic radiation, in the form of gamma rays, can also induce excitation in the nucleus of a
uranium or plutonium atom. The nuclear binding energy is provided by the bombardment of the
nuclei with the particles, which causes the subdivision of the uranium or plutonium nucleus.
The two categories of nuclear fission are the induced and spontaneous fission.

The energy liberated in the two types of nuclear reactions is channeled for various uses.
Nuclear power is used in medical diagnosis and treatment of cancer using radioisotopes and
radioactive materials. This can potentially lead to the improvement of the health of cancer patients
which can be beneficial for a country.
Nuclear power is also used in space exploration by the setting up of radioisotope power systems that
helps astronauts and space scientists to study neighbouring planets such as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn etc.
This ensures that we maintain a deeper view of our cosmos therefore advancing cosmology and
astronomy. Nuclear energy is also harnessed to produce electricity which is helpful for economy
and environment since it is a form of clean energy. The economy of a country can be enhanced with
the production of nuclear energy which facilitate the smooth management of industries because of
the clean and long-lasting nuclear energy.

Even though nuclear energy might prove to be very beneficial to a country , it also has it snags.
It is very expensive to build and maintain even though it is relatively cheap to operate.
This can have financial strain on a country’s economy.
The production of nuclear energy also leads to radioactive waste which is harmful to the
environment. The harmful radiations affect the soil, ecosystems and cause biomagnification in the
biodiversity of an ecosystem.

Nuclear energy promises a bright future for energy production in the world but we should monitor
its progress and how it contribute towards the solution of the global energy crisis that is looming in
the horizon.

References

Conn, R. W. (2019, July 5). nuclear fusion. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/

Helman, C. (2021, October 19). Energy Crisis 2021: How Bad Is It, And How Long Will It Last?
Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2021/10/19/energy-crisis-2021-
how-bad-is-it-and-how-long-will-it-last/

Nuclear Energy. (n.d.). Greenpeace USA. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://
www.greenpeace.org/usa/ending-the-climate-crisis/issues/nuclear/

Patrick J. Kiger, & Freudenrich, C. (2005, August 11). How Nuclear Fusion Reactors Work.
HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/fusion-reactor3.htm

Steinberg, E. P. (2020, April 10). nuclear fission. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://