SOURCES OF ENERGY

Energy means the capacity to do work.

Principle of conservation of energy - energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be
changed from one form to another. Thus, in any given situation, when all forms of energy are taken
into account, the total energy remains constant.
When we talk of energy production, energy crisis, and energy conservation etc., we refer to
the energy in a useful form energy that we can use to cook food, operate machines and appliances,
run vehicles, and so on.
Of course there are plenty of energy all around us. Whether we can use it for our purpose or
not determines the usefulness of that form of energy for our purpose. For example, we cannot use the
potential energy of a rock high up on a hill to cook our food, but we can use the chemical energy
present in cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas, LPG) for cooking. So, the rock is not a source of
energy for our present purpose, but the LPG is. Evidently, the energy available from every source
cannot be used for doing work or doing things for purpose at hand.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOURCES OF ENERGY:
Energy sources can be classified in different ways. One classification is based on the reserves
(supply) of an energy source - Renewable (Non-exhaustible) and Non-renewable (exhaustible).
Renewable sources of energy are those which can be replenished either by us or by the natural
processes, or those available in the nature in abundance unlimited in supply. For example biomass,
the sun, the wind and flowing water etc.
Non-renewable sources of energy are those which were produced by the slow natural
processes, and which are available to us is limited, and which cannot be replenished by us. For
example coal, petroleum and natural gas etc.
Another is based on how long we have been using it - Conventional and Non-conventional.
Sources of energy that we have been using for centuries are called conventional sources of
energy. For example wood, coal, petroleum and flowing water etc.
Sources of energy, though existing since time immemorial, but we have started using only
recently due to technological advancement (which allowed us to tap those sources of energies in new
ways) are called non-conventional or alternate form of energy. For example solar energy,
geothermal energy, tidal energy, wave energy and nuclear energy etc.
GOOD SOURCES OF ENERGY:
Whether a source of energy is a good source of energy or not a good source of energy depends
on several factors such as the purpose for which it is needed, its availability etc.
What can be a good source of energy at one place may not be a good source of energy at
another place. For instance, solar energy or energy obtained from biomass can be a good source of
energy for a village but none of these sources can be good for running a factory.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

Besides, it also depends on our technological advancement. For instance fusion reaction can
provide us abundant energy at quite low cost and devoid of harmful radioactive waste (hydrogens
atoms will fuse to form stable helium atom), but our present technological capabilities limits us in
making fission practicable for harnessing energy.
For choosing a source of energy for a particular purpose or place, we the following
characteristics.
i)
Availability in plenty steady supply
ii)
Our technological capability to exploit (derive energy from the given source)
iii)
Safety and ease in exploitation (use)
iv)
Ease of storage and transportation
v)
Economical
vi)
Non-polluting
GOOD FUELS:
Fuels are the substances which on combustion provide us energy. Thus good fuels are those
which on combustion release large amount of heat per unit mass.
Amount of heat released per unit mass is called calorific value of the fuel. Higher is the
calorific value better is the fuel if other conditions such as non-polluting nature, economical, ease of
storage and transportation, safety, convenience in use etc. are also satisfactorily met.
FOSSIL FUELS:
Fuels that originated from the remains of dead plants and animals are called fossil fuels. These
are conventional, non-renewable fuels. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels.
Coal is formed from the remains of the dead plants and vegetation. The remains of dead plants
(or vegetation) buried deep inside the earth, under high pressure and high temperature, slowly, over
millions of years, gets converted into coal and natural gas.
Petroleum is formed from the remains of the sea-organisms. Dead sea-organisms buried deep
inside the earth, under high temperature and high pressure, and in the absence of air, slowly, over
millions of years, get transformed into petroleum and natural gas.
Of these Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel because it burns completely, and is the least
polluting (releases only CO2 in the atmosphere).
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF BURNING FOSSIL FUELS:
(a) The burning of fossil fuels cause air pollution. The pollutants produced include carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matters unburnt
particles etc.
(b) Burning of fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is one of the greenhouse gases. Excess
CO2 in the atmosphere thus contributes to global warming.
(c) When fossil fuels are burnt in insufficiency of oxygen, carbon monoxide is produced. This is
highly poisonous gas as it reduces oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Thus, if inhaled, it might
prove fatal.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

(d) Fossil fuel also contains compounds of sulphur and nitrogen. The oxides of sulphur and nitrogen
(SO3, SO2, NO2, NO etc.) are thus produced during the combustion of fossil fuel. These oxides
combine with water molecules present in the atmosphere as moisture to form sulphuric acid,
sulphurous acid, and nitric acid etc. These acids fall on the earth with rain, which we call acid
rain. Acid rain damages soil, water bodies, crops, living tissues and structures like the Taj Mahal.
(e) The unburnt particles produced during the combustion of fossil fuels as well as other suspended
particulate matters can affect our lungs and cause respiratory problems such as asthma etc. These
also blacken clothes and buildings.
HYDRO ENERGY:
Flowing water has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy can be tapped for doing useful work.
This principle is used to generate hydroelectricity. Water is first collected behind the dams. It is then
allowed to fall down on the blades of turbines. This makes turbines to rotate. The turbines are
connected to generators. Rotating turbines thus make generators to produce electricity.
ADVANTAGES OF HYDROELECTRICITY:
(a) The source of energy (water) is free and renewable.
(b) It is harnessed by a pollution-free process, with no smoke, chemicals, etc., being produced.
(c) The cost of electricity generation is the least compared to that from other types of power plants.
(d) Flowing water is a more reliable source of energy than wind.
(e) Hydroelectricity can be generated on a large scale from a single plant.
(f) Dams built for hydroelectric plants also help in flood control and irrigation.
(g) Small hydroelectric stations are one of the best options for generating electricity from renewable
sources, as they do not affect the environment much.
DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROELECTRICITY:
(a) Dams built for large hydroelectric plants submerge a large area of land under water. This affects
the plants and animals of the region. People of the area also lose their lands. Apart from this,
blocking or changing the course of a river affects fish and other organisms of the river.
(b) Large hydroelectric power plants are expensive to build.
(c) Not all rivers and not all areas are suitable for hydroelectric power generation.
SCOPE OF HYDROELECTRICITY:
Hydroelectricity has huge potential worldwide. In India, it is estimated that 145,000MW of
hydroelectricity can be generated.
WIND ENERGY:
Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the earth's surface by the sun. To generate electricity
on a commercial basis, wind-electric generators are set up in large wind farms.
ADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY:
(a) The source of energy (wind) is free.
(b) It is harnessed by a pollution-free process, with no smoke, chemicals, etc., being produced.
(c) A small wind-electric plant can be set up near a factory to provide pollution-free power for its
use.
LIMITATIONS OF WIND ENERGY:
(a) Wind energy cannot be harnessed at places where wind does not blow regularly. A wind-electric
generator works only on winds of at least 15 km/h.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

(b) Wind is not a dependable source of energy because sometimes the air is absolutely still and at
other times there are storms.
(c) It is expensive to set up a wind farm for generating electricity because wind farms need a large
area.
SCOPE OF HYDROELECTRICITY:
It is estimated that India can produce more than 45,000MW of electricity from wind energy.
Maharashtra is the leading state in generating electricity from wind energy. And India is among the
top five producers of electricity from wind along with Germany, USA, Denmark and Spain.
ENERGY FROM BIOMASS:
In the context of energy production, biomass is any organic matter from which we can get
energy on a renewable basis. It includes agricultural residues, wood, animal excreta, wastes from food
processing and municipal wastes.
Agricultural residues include straw, hay and husk. Waste from food processing includes
bagasse, which is the residue left after extracting the juice from sugar cane. Cow dung (gobar) has
been a traditional biomass fuel in our country.
Since plants trap solar energy in the form of food, and animals eat plants, the ultimate source
of biomass energy therefore is the sun.
WOOD:
Wood has been a major source of energy since man discovered fire. It is still used widely as
a fuel for cooking and heating. Hardly 10% of the energy contained in the wood is utilized. Also, it
does not burn the wood completely, which causes a lot of smoke.
Indian scientists have designed several 'smokeless' chulhas (stove). These produce much less
smoke, and the fuel is more efficiently utilized.
CHARCOAL:
Charcoal is prepared by burning wood in an insufficient supply of oxygen. The process of
burning wood in insufficient supply of oxygen is called destructive distillation of wood.
Wood is a mixture of carbon compounds like cellulose (a carbohydrate), which decompose
on heating. Most of the products formed escape, and what is left behind is mainly carbon, which is a
better fuel than wood.
Charcoal is a better fuel than wood because:
(a) When the same mass of charcoal and wood are burnt, charcoal produces almost twice the heat
produced by wood. So, its energy-conversion efficiency is better than that of wood.
(b) Charcoal produces much less smoke than wood.
(c) Charcoal is a compact fuel that is more convenient to handle than wood.

CATTLE DUNG:
Cattle dung has been traditionally used as a fuel in Indian villages. The dung is shaped into
flat cakes, and then dried and used as fuel for cooking etc.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

Burning cattle-dung cake produces some heat and a lot of smoke. Scientists have found a
better way of using cattle dung to produce biogas, popularly called gobar gas.
BIOGAS:
In an oxygen-free or oxygen-deficient (anaerobic) environment, certain types of bacteria
decompose wet biomass to produce a combustible mixture of gases called biogas. The process is
called anaerobic decomposition. Biogas can contain up to 75% methane, 23% carbon dioxide and
2% other gases, including hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide. Methane is an excellent fuel.
BIOGAS PLANT:
A biogas plant has a digester in which the
biomass is decomposed, a mixing tank for mixing the
biomass with water, an outflow tank and a means of
collecting gas.
The biomass is mixed with water in the mixing
tank to form slurry. The slurry from this tank flows into
the digester, which is a sealed chamber. The biomass
decomposes here anaerobically and expands, and the gas
produced presses down the slurry. This causes the spent
slurry to overflow into the outflow tank. The spent slurry is used as manure.
The upper part of the digester has an outlet for gas. To prevent excessive pressure build up,
the gas is removed from time to time.
ADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS:
(a) A biogas plant is quite simple and can be easily built in rural areas.
(b) Biogas is an excellent, clean fuel that bums without producing ash and smoke.
(c) The spent slurry is good manure.
(d) Biogas plants are a safe and useful way of waste disposal.
(e) Use of biogas in rural areas leads to saving of firewood, and reduces deforestation.
SOLAR (PHOTOTHERMAL/ PHOTOVOLTAIC) ENERGY:
The energy received from the sun is called solar energy.
In fact the sun is the ultimate source of energy of fossil fuels, flowing water, wind, biomass
and Ocean waves.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY:
(a) It is available everywhere.
(b) It is available in plenty (renewable), and it is free.
(c) It does not cause pollution.
LIMITATIONS OF SOLAR ENERGY:
(a) It cannot be used at night.
(b) Devices based on solar energy do not work well on cloudy days.
SOLAR HEATING DEVICES:
A solar heating device uses solar energy to heat things like water and food. To make a solar
heating device effective, it needs to be ensured that the device absorbs a lot of heat from sunlight and
does not lose too much of the collected heat. To achieve these, the following measures are taken:
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

Increasing the absorption of heat: Black and dark-coloured surfaces absorb heat better than
do light-coloured and white surfaces. So, in certain types of solar heating devices, the surfaces meant
for collecting sunlight are painted black to increase the absorption of heat.
Reducing the loss of heat: A hot object loses heat to its surroundings by conduction,
convection and radiation. In a box-type device, to reduce heat loss by conduction, the walls are made
of an insulator, i.e., a material that is a poor conductor of heat. The box is made airtight so that the air
inside cannot take the heat out of the box. Thus, convection loss is also reduced. Radiation loss is
reduced by covering the top of the box with glass. Sunlight passes through the glass and heats the
materials inside the box. The heated materials radiate heat, but these get reflected back into the box
by the glass. This traps the heat (in the same way it is trapped in a greenhouse).
Increasing the amount of sunlight collected: A reflector such as a plane mirror is used to
reflect sunlight into the heating device so that more sunlight enters it.
SOLAR COOKER:
Solar cooker is a device that uses solar energy
for cooking. In its simplest form it consists of a
special box in which the food to be cooked is placed.
The box is made of an insulating material
such as plastic or wood. The box may be doublewalled, with an insulating material (even air) between
the outer and inner walls. This reduces heat loss due
to conduction more effectively.
The inner walls are painted black to increase heat absorption. The box is covered with a glass
sheet. This reduces heat loss by radiation and traps heat, which increases the temperature inside the
box.
The covered box is made airtight to reduce heat loss by convection. To increase the amount
of sunlight going into the box, a plane mirror is hinged at an angle at the top of the box.
The food to be cooked is taken in a vessel and placed inside the cooker. The temperature
inside the cooker reaches l00 -140C in about 2-3 hours in summer. So, in such cooker we can cook
food that requires slow heating like dal, vegetables, rice, and so on.
The advantages of solar cookers are that they are inexpensive to own and easy to operate. We
can put food in several vessels inside the cooker so that they get cooked simultaneously. These
cookers reduce firewood and LPG consumption. And they do not produce any smoke.
The disadvantages are that we can use such cookers only
during daytime. And these can be used effectively only in regions
with warm climate. During winters and on cloudy days these
devices do not work effectively and take a long time to cook
food. Besides, we cannot use box-type cookers to fry food or
make rotis/chapatis.
SOLAR WATER HEATER:
Solar energy can be used to heat water. In a solar water
heater, sunlight is allowed to fall on a box made of a poor
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

conductor of heat. The glass top of the box lets in sunlight and traps heat. Water enters a tube that is
painted black to increase the absorption of heat. It is bent several times to increase its length inside
the box. This allows the water flowing through it sufficient time to absorb heat. Hot water collects in
the tank of the heater for use.
SOLAR CELLS
A device which converts solar energy directly into electricity is called a solar cell or a
photovoltaic cell.
Some substances like silicon are semiconductors. Their ability to conduct electricity is much
less than that of conductors. However, when certain substances are added to semiconductors, they are
able to conduct electricity much better. Solar cells are made from such altered semiconductors.
When sunlight falls on a solar cell, a potential difference of about 0.5-1V develops across it.
The power of a solar cell depends on its surface area. The greater the surface area of the solar cell,
the greater is the solar energy collected by it, and hence, the greater is the power generated.
Small solar cells are, therefore suitable for use in only those electronic devices that require
very little power. Such devices include calculators and watches.
A typical solar cell delivers much less power than a common dry cell. Because solar cell
provides very little power, a large number of solar cells are connected and spread over a large area so
that they can provide sufficient power for many applications. Such an arrangement of solar cells is
called a solar panel. The solar cells in a solar panel are connected in such a way that the total potential
difference and the total capacity to provide electric current become large.
The advantage of solar panels is more in areas where the usual energy sources are not available
such as in remote villages and hilly areas. These are also used as the source of electric power in
satellites and in unmanned aircraft that fly at high altitudes for long periods conducting scientific
experiments. Experimental solar-powered cars have also been made. In many parts of India, solar
panels are being used to charge rechargeable batteries during the day. At night, these batteries provide
electric power for lighting, etc. They are also being used for operating street-lights, traffic-lights and
water pumps etc.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR CELLS:
(a) Solar cells require little maintenance and last for a long time.
(b) Solar cells are environment friendly, as they do not cause any pollution.
(c) Solar cells are suitable for use in remote areas where electrical power lines have not reached.
(d) After installation, no further cost is involved in generating electricity directly from solar cells.
LIMITATIONS OF SOLAR CELLS:
(a) Solar panels are expensive. (Although silicon is the second-most abundant element on earth, the
cost of purifying silicon for making semiconductors used in solar cells is very high. This increases
the cost of solar cells.)
(b) The solar cells in a solar panel are connected using silver, to keep the resistance as low as possible.
This also increases the cost.
(c) Solar cells provide direct current (DC), while most household appliances work on AC. Special
devices (inverters) are needed to convert the DC to AC.
(d) Since the power output of solar cells is low, a large number of solar panels, spread over a large
area, are required, even to meet the normal electrical power requirement of a household.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

(e) Like all solar devices, solar cells work only during the day, and their effectiveness is reduced in
winters and on cloudy days. For the power requirement at night, storage batteries are charged by
solar cells during the day. The batteries further add to the cost.
OCEAN ENERGY:
Electricity can be generated from the ocean by utilizing the ocean thermal energy, tidal
energy and wave energy.
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY:
Solar energy falling on the surface of the ocean warms it. The water at the surface of the ocean
is thus warmer than the water deep below.
Generally, the difference in temperature is about
20C between the surface water and the water at a depth
of 1 km. This temperature difference can be used to
operate an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
plant.
In a typical OTEC plant, a fluid with low boiling
point such as ammonia is used. Warm sea water is used
to vaporize liquid ammonia. The expanding vapours of
ammonia turn a turbine connected to a generator. These
vapours then go to a condenser. There, cold sea water, pumped up from the deep, is used to liquefy
the ammonia. This ammonia is reused, and the cycle goes on.
TIDAL ENERGY:
Tides cause the level of sea water to rise and fall periodically. This is mainly due to the
gravitational pull exerted by the moon, and to some extent by the sun. The water level is maximum
at high tide and minimum at low tide. The difference in water levels can be utilized to generate
electricity.
A tidal power plant can be located at the mouth of a narrow bay, where tides cause regular
and appreciable rise in the level of water. A dam with gates is constructed at the mouth of the bay. At
high tide, the level of the water in the bay rises, and it is allowed to flow in and collect behind the
dam. When the tide ebbs, the water level in the sea starts falling. The dam gates are then closed. As
a result, the level of water behind the dam remains higher than that in the bay. When the difference
in the levels is sufficient, the gates of the dam are opened, and water is allowed to fall into the bay.
This falling water is used to drive turbines connected to electric generators. (In some power plants,
the water flowing in at high tide is also used to generate a part of the power.)
For a tidal power plant, the difference between the water levels at high tide and low tide should
be about 5 metres. Not many places have this. For this reason, tidal energy cannot be a major source
of electrical power.
WAVE ENERGY:
Waves in the ocean involve a lot of kinetic energy, which can be
converted to electricity.
A large air-filled object, called a surface follower, floats in the sea and
moves up and down with the waves. It is linked to a shaft at the bottom of the
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

sea in such a way that its up-and-down motion is converted into the rotational motion of the shaft.
The rotation of the shaft is used to turn the shaft of an electric generator.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
Geothermal energy means energy stored as heat in the earth. Below the earth's crust lies a
layer called the mantle. The temperature near the upper part of the mantle is around 1500C.The
material here is in a partially molten state and is called magma. In some areas, hot magma swells up
into the crust, but remains trapped below the surface of the earth. Such areas in the earth's crust are
called hot spots. The rocks and groundwater above these hot spots get heated. At some places, the
hot water comes to the surface and collects in pools called hot springs. In some cases, the water gets
converted to steam. The fountain of steam and water coming out from the surface of the earth is called
geyser.
Steam as well as hot water from geothermal sources can be utilized by us for some common
uses such as heating of buildings and generation of electricity.
GENERATING ELECTRICITY FROM GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
At places where dry steam comes out of the surface of the earth, it can be used directly to turn
turbines connected to generators. The world's largest geothermal electric power plant, at Geysers
Steam Field, California, uses this method to generate electricity.
At places where steam does not come out on its own, arrangements are made to convert the
hot underground water into steam. The steam is then used to turn turbines.
ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
(a) Geothermal energy is free.
(b) It is renewable and causes almost no pollution.
(c) It is cheaper to run a geothermal plant than a coal-based plant.
(d) Geothermal plants can operate round the clock, unlike those based on solar and tidal energy.
LIMITATIONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
There are very few commercially viable sites where such energy can be exploited.
NUCLEAR ENERGY:
Large amount of energy is released during a nuclear reaction. Any process that involves a
change in the nucleus of an atom is called a nuclear reaction.
Nuclear reactions are of two types: fission in which a nucleus splits into two or more nuclei,
and fusion in which two or more nuclei combine.
In fission reaction, the nucleus splits into daughter nuclei and energy is released. This means
that the nucleons in the daughter nuclei must be more tightly bound and therefore have less mass than
the nucleons in the parent nucleus. This decrease in mass appears as energy released in the fission
process. This energy is released in forms such as photons or kinetic energy of the fission products.
Likewise in fusion reaction, when the light nuclei combine to form a heavy nucleus, the energy
is released in the process. This means the heavy nucleus is more tightly bound than the original lighter
nuclei, and therefore has less mass than the combined mass of the original nuclei. This decrease in
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

mass appears as energy released in the fusion process. This energy is also released in forms such as
photons or kinetic energy of the products nucleus. Fusion is possible only for atoms with A < 58.
ELECTRICITY THROUGH NUCLEAR ENERGY:
In nuclear power plants the electricity is generated through nuclear fission reaction.
The energy released during the nuclear fission is used to generate steam, which drives turbines
connected to generators. The generator thus produces the electricity.
In a nuclear reactor designed for electric power generation, the nuclear reaction is selfsustaining chain reaction in which energy is released at a controlled rate.
A reaction that continues on its own one reaction triggering the next reaction is called a
chain reaction.
In a fission based nuclear reactor, U-235 absorbs a slow neutron to become U-236, which then
splits into two smaller nuclei and releases about 200 MeV of energy.
Uranium from ore typically contains only about 0.7 percent of 235U, with the remaining
99.3 percent being the 238U isotope. Because U-238 tends to absorb neutrons without fissioning,
reactor fuels must be processed to increase the proportion of 235U so that the reaction can sustain
itself. This process is called enrichment.
Nuclear power reactors are located at Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rana Pratap Sagar
(Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (UP), Kakrapar (Gujarat) and Kaiga (Karnataka).
Together these have the installed capacity of less than 3% of the total electricity generation capacity
of our country. In many industrialised countries such as USA, Germany and France etc., more than
30% of their electrical power needs are being derived from nuclear energy.
QUESTIONS:
1. A fission reaction leads to the formation of 141Ba and 92Kr when 235U absorbs a neutron. How is
this reaction expressed symbolically? How many neutrons are released in this reaction?
2. Two ways 235U can undergo fission when bombarded with a neutron are described below. In
each case, neutrons are also released. Find the number of neutrons released in each of the
following:
a. 140Xe and 94Sr released as fission fragments
b. 132Sn and 101Mo released as fission fragments
ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY:
(a) Nuclear power plants consume very little fuel.
(b) If operated properly, nuclear power plants produce less atmospheric pollution than thermal power
plants.
(c) A sizeable amount of fuel can be reclaimed by processing the spent fuel material. In contrast,
fuels like coal cannot be reclaimed once they have been used.
(d) Some radioactive isotopes are produced as by-products in the process, and these are used in
medicine and industry.
(e) Nuclear power is a viable option where fossil fuels like coal are not available, or where it is not
possible to generate electricity from wind, water, etc.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY:

(a) A lot of harmful radioactive wastes are produced in the different stages of energy production from
nuclear fission. They cannot be simply thrown away. So, they are stored in long-term
underground storage facilities, which are expensive to build.
(b) In case of accidents, nuclear radiation may affect those near the site. Radioactive materials that
may leak out can contaminate vast areas of land, crops, water bodies, etc.
(c) Nuclear power plants cannot be located near populated areas.
(d) Nuclear power plants are expensive to build.
(e) Nuclear power plants also pose security problems, as the fuel and by-products can be used to
build nuclear weapons.
THERMONUCLEAR FUSION REACTION:
The fusion reactions are also known as thermonuclear fusion reactions. This is because a
very high temperature is required for fusion to take place. All stars, including our sun, generate energy
by fusion reaction.
Energy obtained per nucleon is much higher in fusion reaction as compared to that obtained
in fission reaction. Thus efforts are under way to create controlled thermonuclear reactions in the
form of a fusion reactor. An additional advantage of such reactors is that few radioactive by-products
are formed as the end product of the fusion of hydrogen nuclei is mostly safe, non-radioactive helium.
Besides, ready availability of fuel the water for such reactor, that too so economically as almost
free, makes it more lucrative for harnessing this source of energy for useful purpose.
Unfortunately, a thermonuclear reactor that can deliver a net power output for an extended
time is not yet a reality. Many difficulties must be resolved before a successful device is constructed.
For example, the energy released in a gas undergoing nuclear fusion depends on the number of fusion
reactions that can occur in a given amount of time. This varies with the density of the gas because
collisions are more frequent in a denser gas. It also depends on the amount of time the gas is confined.
In addition, the Coulomb repulsion force between two charged nuclei must be overcome before they
can fuse. It thus requires giving the nuclei enough kinetic energy to overcome this repulsive force.
This can be accomplished by heating the fuel to extremely high temperatures (about 108 K, or about
10 times greater than the interior temperature of the sun). This poses enormous challenge to make
fusion practicable on earth as all materials vapourize at that temperature. So, we cannot even have a
solid container to hold the reactant particles for fusion! A technique of magnetic confinement is being
used presently in laboratories, nonetheless obtaining such high temperatures are difficult and too
expensive even for laboratories, leave aside obtaining those for a power plant!
Fusion reaction has also been used to make nuclear bombs. These bombs are more powerful
than those based on fission. These are called hydrogen bombs or thermonuclear bombs. Here, the
nuclear reaction is uncontrolled one. This is quite in contrast of the nuclear reaction used in the
nuclear power plant which is controlled to produce energy at steady rate. To trigger fusion reaction
in these bombs, fission reaction is used as the first-stage process. This fission reaction creates the
high temperature and pressure required for the fusion reaction to take place. The fusion reaction thus
triggers. This type of bomb was first detonated in 1952.
What has been called the atomic bomb since 1945 is actually a tremendous nuclear fission
reaction. Likewise, the so-called hydrogen bomb is an uncontrolled nuclear fusion reaction in which
hydrogen nuclei merge to form helium nuclei.
BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)

BASIC PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR ENERGY GENERATION:

In a nuclear reaction the difference in mass (m) between the original nucleus/nuclei and the
product nuclei/nucleus gets converted to energy.
The energy released is given by the equation, E = m c2, where c is the speed of light in
vacuum. This is famously know as mass-energy equivalence relation.
In nuclear reactions, energy is often expressed in units of electron volts (eV): 1 eV = 1.6 1019
joules. Thus, from the above equation, 1 atomic mass unit (symbolically written as amu or simply
u) is equivalent to about 931 mega electron volts (MeV) of energy. (1 amu = 1.67 10-27 kg)
USING ENERGY JUDICIOUSLY
The total coal reserves in our country are estimated to be about 80 billion tonnes, but we are
consuming it at a rate of 250 million tonnes per year. At this rate the resource that nature has produced
over millions of years will be consumed in just a few hundred years! The situation is more alarming
in the case of petroleum reserves. The known petroleum reserves of our country are about 500 million
tonnes only, of which we are consuming 30 million tonnes per year. So, the oil reserves will last for
a few decades only.
The demand for energy is increasing every day. The increasing demand cannot be met for a
long time unless new resources are harnessed, since conventional, non-renewable energy sources are
depleting very fast. This situation is called energy crisis.
Increased use of fossil fuels is also causing environmental problems such as air pollution
which leads to health problems, acid rain and global warming.
To overcome the energy crisis and to save the environment, we have to use energy judiciously.
This means using less of non-renewable and more of renewable energy sources, not wasting energy
and saving energy wherever possible.
The wastage of energy can be reduced by switching off lights, fans, coolers, ACs etc., when
we do not need those.
In big cities, through car-pooing (sharing a car with other people going to work in the same
area) or by using public transport we can save a lot of fuel.
Even by making sure that the taps in our house do not leak, we can save not only the precious
water resources but we can also save lots of energy used in pumping extra water to our roof-top waterstorage-tank.

BPs Academy (Call Us: 9422031727 / 9096989707)