PHYSICS SEMINAR
NUCLEAR PHYSICS, NUCLEAR POWER, AND REACTOR SAFETY
Shahn Nadeau
Physics Department,
Bishop’s University
Friday, March 18, 2011
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Nicolls 315
With the recent events unfolding, even now, at the Japanese Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex, the question of nuclear safety has taken centre stage in our public discourse. Questions abound about this complex subject, and many will undoubtedly find themselves puzzled and unsure, especially with the doom and gloom being offered by traditional media outlets. This talk will attempt to address, from a scientific viewpoint, these questions, in the hope of offering listeners a better understanding of the basic physics involved. Topics covered will include how power generating reactors work, the nuclear physics behind them, as well as how and why they can fail and the ‘fallout’ from such events. This talk will be presented at a basic level, accessible to all undergraduate as well as cegep students.
Please note: This talk is NOT intended to debate the merits of using nuclear power, but rather to give the listener as much information on the subject in order to form their own informed opinions.
