Compound Interest: physics

30 Years Since Chernobyl – How Nuclear Reactors Work

April 26, 2016 8Comments 0Likes 286Views

Infographic on how nuclear reactors generate electricity. A schematic of the reactor is shown. Nuclear fission reactions generate hear which heats water and turns it into steam. The steam drives a turbine, spinning a generator and producing electricity. The steam condenses back into water and can be recycled through the reactor. The fission reactions involve uranium-235 atoms, which are split by neutrons to release energy and more neutrons which produce a chain reaction. Control rods control the reaction by absorbing neutrons, while moderators slow neutrons down so they can be absorbed by uranium atoms. Fission products remain radioactive for many years and must be stored safely. — Click to enlarge

Early in the morning on 26 April 1986, a safety system test at the Chernobyl power plant in Pripyat, now part of Northern Ukraine, ended in a nuclear disaster with catastrophic consequences for both those working at the plant and those living in the surrounding area. The narrative seems to be a classic cautionary tale against the utilisation of nuclear reactors to generate power, but the reality is more nuanced. Here, we look at how nuclear reactors work generally, what led to the accident at Chernobyl 30 years ago, and the differences between Chernobyl and modern reactors.

The Periodic Table's 4 New Elements Update 2016

The Periodic Table’s Four New Elements

January 6, 2016 18Comments 0Likes 303Views

If you take even the slightest interest in chemistry news, you’ll probably already have heard about the official confirmation of the discovery of four new elements, which even achieved widespread coverage in mainstream news outlets. IUPAC (the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) sneaked out the news just before New Year’s Eve without much prior warning, and without a great deal of fanfare, though some had already predicted that an announcement of the sort was imminent. So what do we actually know about these new elements?

The Chemistry of an Electric Guitar

November 24, 2015 2Comments 0Likes 320Views

Electric guitars, on the face of it, might not seem to have much to do with chemistry. However, the materials that make them up are carefully chosen for their chemical properties, without which they simply wouldn’t function. In this graphic, we take a look at some of these materials, and their typical compositions.

A Guide to Different Common Types of Radiation

A Guide to the Different Types of Radiation

September 10, 2015 10Comments 2Likes 310Views

We’re venturing tentatively into the border region between chemistry & physics today, with a look at some of the different types of nuclear radiation. These types vary in their composition, characteristics, and uses, but here’s an attempt to sum up the most common in one succinct graphic.

Graphene: The Carbon-Based ‘Wonder Material’

June 23, 2015 1Comment 0Likes 270Views

You may not have been aware, but this week is Graphene Week 2015, which marks a yearly week-long conference at the University of Manchester based around the emerging science and technological applications of graphene. This seemed as good a time as any to take a look at graphene: what it is, why some scientists are excited by its potential, and how it might make its way to your hands in the near future.