 |
Published by
Australian Academy
of Science
|
|
Activity 2 | Prospect or suspect – uranium mining in Australia
|
Uranium, nuclear energy and radioactivity: library research
Use information from the library to answer the following
questions:
- Can the production of nuclear energy be linked
with the development of nuclear weapons?
- Uranium ore is radioactive while it is in the ground,
so why are people concerned about the effects of radiation from
uranium mining?
Teachers notes
- Plutonium, produced as a waste product by nuclear
reactors, can be used to fuel nuclear weapons.
- Mining the ore brings the radioactivity to the surface. The process of concentration increases the radiation per kilogram of material. The mining and transport of ore increases the area and number of people that could be exposed to radiation.
|
|
