Should Australia embrace nuclear energy? This is a question which will, undoubtedly, be the subject of intense debate in the coming months. Citizens wishing to engage in this debate should endeavour to do so from a knowledge base, more than emotions, valid though these may be. In this lecture you will be presented with one component of that knowledge base: what is nuclear fission; how does a nuclear reactor actually work; what commercial reactor designs are in use around the world; how safe are nuclear reactors, given past accidents?

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Basic nuclear science: nuclear decay processes
• Fission, induced fission; moderation
• How do nuclear reactors operate in the real world
• Safety concerns of nuclear energy

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the concept of induced fission
2. Explain to their friends how a nuclear reactor works
3. Discuss the key details of nuclear accidents