Why will nuclear fission probably not be used directly for powering automobiles?

Question

How could it be used indirectly to power automobiles?

Answer 1

1) Nuclear Reactors are big and you need a certain [large] amount of fuel mass to keep it going.

2) While the fuel isn't highly radioactive, the reaction itself produces lots of radiation along with the spent fuel [for about 5 years, then it is moderatly radioactive after that]

3) Though the threat of your car turning into a bomb is impossible, it takes computers, control rods, and a team of scientists to keep the reaction at a constant speed.

4) With access to radioactive fuel, terrorists could create "breeder" reactors, which, in turn can create plutonium for nukes...

Answer 2

The word fission means to split apart. Inside the reactor of an atomic power plant, uranium atoms are split apart in a controlled chain reaction.

In a chain reaction, particles released by the splitting of the atom go off and strike other uranium atoms splitting those. Those particles given off split still other atoms in a chain reaction. In nuclear power plants, control rods are used to keep the splitting regulated so it doesn't go too fast.

If the reaction is not controlled, you could have an atomic bomb. But in atomic bombs, almost pure pieces of the element Uranium-235 or Plutonium, of a precise mass and shape, must be brought together and held together, with great force. These conditions are not present in a nuclear reactor.

The reaction also creates radioactive material. This material could hurt people if released, so it is kept in a solid form. The very strong concrete dome in the picture is designed to keep this material inside if an accident happens.

Another form of nuclear energy is called fusion. Fusion means joining smaller nuclei (the plural of nucleus) to make a larger nucleus. The sun uses nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium atoms. This gives off heat and light and other radiation.
In the picture to the right, two types of hydrogen atoms, deuterium and tritium, combine to make a helium atom and an extra particle called a neutron.

Also given off in this fusion reaction is energy! Thanks to the University of California, Berkeley for the picture.

Scientists have been working on controlling nuclear fusion for a long time, trying to make a fusion reactor to produce electricity. But they have been having trouble learning how to control the reaction in a contained space.

What's better about nuclear fusion is that it creates less radioactive material than fission, and its supply of fuel can last longer than the sun.

to you question WHY? Use the Force!

Answer 3

We would not be able to use nuclear fission to power our car directly because nuclear fission in its most controled form releses enough energy to burn a human alive. The rays which it releases can cause slow death. If we have a nuclear fission going on in our car then we would be burnt alive and people on the fothpath would be affected due to the rays. then from where can we get so much radioactive elements. So it is not practical.

Nuclear fission can be indirectly used to run cars in the form of electric current. Electriccity generated from nuclear plants can be used to run electric cars.

Answer 4

By developing automobiles that depend fully or at least in part on electricity (the current crop of hybrids being a good start) and manufacturing electricity using nuclear power.

Petroleum-fueled vehicles depend almost entirely on imported fossil fuels. All of the USA's natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, and nuclear power do NOTHING to power the transportation sector. Electric cars change that by allowing us to use our existing electrical-power infrastructure to run a good part of the transportation sector as well. The only way that nuclear power can replace imported fossil fuels is if transportation becomes electric.

Answer 5

Nuclear fission refers to the spitting or decay the heavy element such as uranium leaving a highly toxic radioactive waste. Where as fusion is the joining of lighter nuclei to form heavier elements while energy is extracted, see the Sun. Nature can do this billions and billions of times over, shame we can't. Why cause humans just love having power over each other.

Answer 6

I don't agree with the other answer. The heat can be contained and controlled with fissionable material. We do that all the time with small fission weapons. But the radiation requires heavy shielding to protect living things from radiation poisoning. Just a small amount of U235, say 2 kg, would require shielding equally as massive as a car itself to protect the driver and passengers inside from the radiation. Remember, unlike weapons that are stored away from living beings, a propulsion unit would be exposing the drivers and riders continuously over a long period of time. And that requires way more shielding than weapons have. Radiation poisoning, you see, builds up over time; so long term exposure, like driving around town daily, requires far lower exposure than the occasional exposure of weapons delivery.

Answer 7

Large amount of energy is released in fission and it is chain reaction.It must be controlled by using moderator and controlling rods . It emits very harmful radiations which causes serios diseases. Hence it cannot be used for automobiles..

Answer 8

Good question - it's assumed one shouldn't put a nuclear reactor on a moving vehicle as there's a high probability a moving object will crash eventually

Yet I would think putting a nuclear reactor on a 'mobile' war machine would make it an even bigger risk - as it is now targeted for destruction by the enemy

Answer 9

It could be used to power they outlets aye those could generate power to be transferred to da cars. It would be too expensive to have a nuclear reactor in every car though.

Answer 10

It certainly will be unless there is a breakthrough in nuclear fusion research using hydrogen.