Nuclear power as an alternative energy source Essay

Nuclear power as an alternative energy source - Essay Example Several countries like China are waking up to the possibilities of this energy source with staggering 25 nuclear reactors in the pipeline. The benefits of nuclear energy as an energy source are many, especially the fact that it is renewable. However, a few disastrous occurrences like the Chernobyl disaster in Russia and the Fukushima power plant catastrophe in Japan provide a counter-argument. The premise of this paper is to discuss nuclear power generation, its pros and cons, and whether it is worth pursuing as an alternative energy source of the future. Is nuclear power a viable answer to heal a planet ravaged by global warming? Alternatively, is it a dangerous and expensive alternative for energy needs satisfaction? Nuclear energy generation is attained via both nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion has potential for the generation of much less waste of radioactive nature as compared to nuclear fission. However, nuclear fusion, as potentially viable as it seems, is quite technically difficult as a procedure, and is as of now quite some way from being utilized in large scale power plants that can be considered functional (Craddock 117). Interest in nuclear energy for power generation began with the discovery of radioactive elements like uranium in the early 20th century. The splitting of the atomic nucleus, fission, creates energy in a reactor. An element possessing a heavy nucleus, like U-235, is struck by a neutron, which divides it into two lighter nuclei. Energy is released from this splitting, in the form of radiation and heat. Around 3-4 neutrons are released in the process and these split more nuclei, setting off a chain reaction (Craddock 119). The USSR’s nuclear plant at Obninsk became the first nuclear plant to produce power in the world for a power grid, producing some five MW of power. Calder Hall in the English region of Sellafield became the first commercial station

The effect of temperature in catalyse activity Essay Example for Free

The effect of temperature in catalyse activity Essay Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts. They are made in cells. A catalyst is something that speeds up a reaction, but does not get used up in the reaction. One can usually be used many times. An example of this is shown in the following diagram: Prediction and Scientific Knowledge I predict, that if I have a higher enzyme concentration, then this will cause a higher rate of catalyse activity, because there will be more active places for a reaction to take place, which will cause more chemical reactions because of successful collisions because of the active site of the enzyme and substrate. The collision theory states that molecules must collide with sufficient energy (activation energy) if a reaction is to take place. As temperature increases more molecules gain this activation energy, hence more collisions occur per second, so the rate increases. This is what will happen in my experiment. The product will be the carbon dioxide produced. I believe the rate of reaction will be at its peak when used in conjunction with water at a temperature of 40? C, because if the temperature exceeds this then the enzyme is also not efficient due to the lock and key hypothesis, which states, when an enzyme gets to a certain temperature, it denatures and cannot function properly. Apparatus The apparatus I will be required to use in this experiment are a: Conical Flask (plus cork) Measuring cylinder (Cylindrical) Borer Delivery tube Water Water bath (room temperature, 30? C, 40? C, 50? C and 60? C) Knife White tile Ruler Variables Stop watch Bung The variables used in this experiment will be: The varying temperature of the water The volume of H2O2 The amount of Potato (for this experiment we used #cm as if we used a certain weight rather than length, the surface area would be different for each piece, so therefore making the test unfair. The shape of the potato (again to do with the surface area) The time of the reaction so as to gain the correct readings from each test. Apparatus and Diagram Method Firstly we gathered together the above apparatus and set up the experiment as shown in the diagram. We would use 2, 3cm size pieces of potato for each test tube and carry out each individual test 3 times and gain an average reading. The tests would involve testing the reactivity with 5 different water temperatures, these temperatures: Room temperature, 30? C, 40? C, 50? C, 60? C We decided with the experiment that we would time the reaction for 1 minute and then note down the reading of oxygen (O2) produced. To insure that the temperatures were at their exact point and to make sire the we stable, we used water baths, which heat the water to the exact temperature and keep the temperature constant, as to make the test a fair one. As with all experiments, we had to be aware of safety, for a number of reasons: We were using a knife to cut up the potatoes, which, when being used wrongly could lead to injury. H2O2 is a corrosive substance, so we had to be careful that we did not come in direct physical contact with it (i. e. spill it on our skin) and finally, We were using a water of high temperature (50 and 60) so had to be careful not to burn ourselves. Table of Results Temperature (? C) Test 1 (O2 produced in cmi ) Test 2 (O2 produced in cmi ) Test 3 (O2 produced in cmi ) Average (cmi ) 20. 0 (room temp) 1. 20 0. 80 0. 90 0. 96 30. 0 1. 40 1. 80 2. 00 1. 73 40. 0 2. 40 2. 60 3. 10 2. 70 50. 0 1. 80 2. 00 1. 50 1. 76 60. 0 0. 07 0. 09 0. 10 0. 086 Summary of Results You can see from the results, the reaction rate slowly increases as it goes from 20 to 40 and at 50 it has begun to denature, but by 60 the enzymes have completely denatured and the reaction is very small. Conclusion The scientific knowledge we gathered during our theoretical side of the experiment proved to create results that we easily distinguishable when plotted against what we had predicted to find. For example, the lock and key hypothesis states that once an enzyme has reached a certain temperature beyond its optimum, it becomes denatured and cannot function properly as a catalyst and therefore not speed up the reaction. The collision theory also comes into the experiment, as with a greater volume of H2O2 the experiment rate of reaction would increase. This is due to the fact that with a greater volume, there will be more successful collisions between both reactants. To conclude the practical experiment, we found that due to the enzymes being biological, they denature once they reach a certain high degrees, and we found the reaction decreased severely between 40 and 60. This suggests that the enzymes began to denature somewhere before 50. We also found that the results reflected the theoretical calculations we had made earlier (i. e. the collision theory: Rate = Change in Volume/Time) This also suggests that if we used a greater volume of H2O2 then the rate of reaction would speed up (e. g. in this experiment the rate of reaction was directly proportional to the rate of reaction. ) Evaluation The aim of our experiment was to see whether temperature has an effect on catalyse activity, from my results we can see that it does. The procedure of this experiment was fairly straight forward and was carried out correctly though there were certain things that complicated the practical side of it. The quality of the data we obtained was if not perfect, close to correct as it approximately fitted with our theoretical predictions that after 40 the enzymes would begin to denature and by 60 they would be completely ineffective in the reaction. With most experiments like this one, there are always going to be certain factors that either arent carried out properly or are not going to work quite as they should in a classroom atmosphere, as it is far different from a scientific lab, but I feel that the experiment was suitable and we received good, accurate results. There are a few improvements that could be made to improve the fairness and accuracy of the experiment. For example: Use either a more accurate water bath, or other device that can heat to a certain temperature and keep that temperature at a constant level. And Use a more accurate instrument (rather than a knife and ruler) to cut out the potatoes to insure they are all of exactly the same length and surface area, to keep the test fair. Another thing I would have done is use a pureed potato instead of using a potato cylinder like I did. This is because it would give more active sites for a reaction to take place.

A Walk to Remember - The Human Heart :: Walk to Remember Essays

A Walk to Remember - The Human Heart    A Walk to Remember, by Nicholas Sparks take you on a whirl wind journey into the depths of the human heart, and leads Landon, one of the main characters, to a decision so stunning it would lead him irrevocably on the   road to manhood. Landon the most popular boy in Beuford High and fall's > unexpectedly in love with Jamie, and unpopular, bible-bearing girl. It was   kismet that brought these two together, and an incurable disease that would   tear them apart. Landon had recently broken up with his girlfriend of 1-1/2   years and it was a twist of fate that make Jamie his date for the homecoming   dance. They went to the dance and did not speak to each other until they were both cast a the lead in the towns Christmas play. After the play was over   Landon found   himself wanting, and being with Jamie everyday, he was falling in love with her. Then came the shock of his life, Jamie revealed to him that she had Lucima. Landon was torn apart and had no idea what to do, so he   turned to the bible for guidance and help. He made the decision that he loved   Jamie too much to let her dreams slip away, so he asked her to marry him.   They were married on March 12,1959. She died shortly after that, but he never forgot her. Landon and Jamie are the too main characters in the book. Landon is the richest, most popular boy at Beuford High, and Jamie is poor,   unpopular and almost nonexistent at school. Jamie helps out at the orphanage, picks up hurt animals, and carries a bible with her every where. Whereas   Landon has never even thought of people without a home or money and he only opens a bible when he has to at church.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my opinion Landon is a normal teenage boy, who's only concerns are: girls and cars. I think that Jamie helped him see how powerful the bible is and how it feels good to help people in need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This book takes place in Beuford, a town in North Carolina.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There was a lot of foreshadowing in the book but the one that stands out the most is when Landon asked Jamie to the dance and she thinks for a

I’m African American, Not Ghetto Yet I’m “White” Essay

I’m African American, Not Ghetto Yet I’m â€Å"White†? Stereotypes are a part of the reason why people are so judgmental today. In the world, speaking â€Å"like† an African American usually refer to slang/illiterate terms while speaking Caucasian would refer to intelligence. The stereotype I chose, â€Å"If you’re black but don’t act ghetto you’re considered â€Å"white†; is seldomly brought up but constantly judged throughout the business world and education systems or even in everyday tasks such as shopping. Deon Cole Black Box is a comedy show that The first media selected was an episode from â€Å"Deon Cole’s Black Box†. This video focused on an African American man working in a business consisting of mostly Caucasian people. The speaker, Deon Cole spoke to a moreover adult audience conveying that African American speaking intellectually and using words such as â€Å"awesome† are considered speaking white and is not acceptable. The purpose of this stereotype is to compare the speaking difference between African Americans and Caucasians. The speaker delivered the message with a humorous point of view. He consistently talked in a different way compared to when he talked to people of his same race. Although to his other coworkers he sounded normal, to people of his own race he sounded odd. The speaker confronted him on this saying how he talked â€Å"white†. This added to the stereotype ‘If you’re black but not ghetto, you’re automatically considered â€Å"white†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. The Second media I chose was an article called â€Å"Racism in High School I’m not Oreo or ghetto—I’m just being me†. The author Nesshell Rainford communicated her opinion on how others were considering her an Oreo. This meaning others felt she talked white on the inside but was African American on the outside. The intended audience was any teenager who may have experienced or is experiencing this. She expressed how she felt towards teasing, insults, racism and judgments she dealt with in high school.

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Trends in psychology and Counseling Essay

Psychology has always been known to be the educated study about human behavior. For a long time now, psychology though has been expanding its social impact to the people that it aims to serve. Primarily, it is now utilized to understand the ways by which people could be assisted with their personal issues and thus be able to face the different challenges of human living. (Myers, 2006, 17) With the turn of time, handling human issues are also now subjected to different twists and several improvements that subject psychological procedures into conforming to the different trends of human society. The said trends include the issues of answering to the idealisms of the Black Americans [racial issues], feminists, and cross-cultural psychology approaches. Dealing with these different issues conscientiously actually define the modern process of psychology and counseling. (Myers, 2006, 19) How are the psychologists at present able to handle the said issues of human diversity to be strongly implicated within the existing system of traditional process of counseling? The differentiation of both the personal or human psychology and the different approaches used to explain social psychology could give a better view of how the said matter is implicated within the system. The concept of human action is generally concluded by the aspect of the scientific facts to be significantly caused by the works of the mind of every individual. This idea is generally expressed in the saying â€Å"what the mind can perceive, the body can conceive. † Thus, to empirically understand and explain the actions and personality of each individual in the society, their mind and their idealism must be critically explored finding the relevant relationship between each humanistic aspect of each individual. It is generally noted by the scientific research society that the very essence and personality of each individual resides intrinsically in their minds, which manifests as the source of their thoughts fueling their actions. Thus, for the very same reason that the field of psychology in the empirical world becomes an important aspect in the course of understanding the humanity and the path of their development becomes it intrinsically addresses the main core of each individual and the other aspects revolving around it. In this field, two specific branches become much intriguing and relevant to the scientific society’s concern namely the branch of scientific psychology and social psychology. Personal Human Psychology Psychology mainly pertains to the empirical study of the intrinsic nature of each individual through considering relevant elements such his or her mental processes, behavior, personal perception and identity and other human characteristics in relation to their actions and behaviors. The field of psychology firmly holds that every action of the individual has its own reason behind it causing the said manifestation and the said reason lies hidden in the mind of the involved person. In the study of the scientific psychology of the subject, aspects such as personal perception towards inward matters and outside factors, behavioral and personal motivation, and the learning process play a significant part in the psychological development of each individual manifested mainly in the personality of the person. In addition, psychology also addressed the aspect of abnormal behavioral characteristics studying its main causes and contributory factors thus, establishing a scientifically significant pattern for it. In application, psychology becomes an important aspect in every field of scientific studies involving society and human characteristics and in explaining the relevant relationship of the two. Social Psychology Social Psychology mainly deals with the influential relationship between the social environment and its elements and the human beings and their psychological aspect. This field mainly addresses the psychological field through the social structure and system in the society and how it significantly affects the mental processes of each individual. (Aronson, 2004, 18) This attitude generally perceive human beings as individuals or as a group as the main unit of analysis employing the common social behavior of interacting with other individuals as part of the social system developing their distinctive individuality and personality. In this concept, as each individual interact with other individuals, they develop their own identity with their own social perception and psychological personality. In the aspect of its application, this study is significantly relevant in profiling and understanding the psychological nature and personality of the subject by considering his or her social backgrounds and experiences while he or she interacts with others as part of the social system. (Aronson, 2004, 17) Thus, psychology indeed becomes an important aspect in the development of the society and the human civilization as a whole. This field of scientific study can be applied to every field addressing basic and critical human nature understanding and explaining the intrinsic behavioral pattern of each individual and the actions manifesting the said psychological elements. This field of study firmly holds that humankind cannot further advance without first understanding their very basic nature and characteristics as significant units in the generally concept of humanity. (Lesko, 2000, 17) Obviously, understanding human behavior both through the personal and social context of the matter subjects the process to the different issues that the human society is actually involved with. It is through these advancements in the society that understanding the issues of human behavior becomes more enlightened thus making the process of explaining human dispositions and relating them to the process by which people could be guided with their propositions in life is indeed effective and beneficial for all. References: Myers, David G. Psychology. Worth Publishers; 8th Edition. 2006. Aronson, E. & Wilson T. D. & Akert R. M. (2004). Social Psychology. Prentice Hall, NY, USA. 5th Edition. Lesko, W. A. (2000). Readings in Social Psychology: General, Classic and Contemporary Selections. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, USA. 5th Edition.