Nuclear Energy through a Virtual Field Trip
The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant along the Connecticut River.Copyright 2010 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant.jpg
Students learn about nuclear energy generation through a nuclear power plant virtual field trip that includes visiting four websites and watching a short video taken inside a nuclear power plant. They are guided by a handout that provides the URLs and questions to answer from their readings. They conclude with a class discussion to share their findings and reflections. It is recommended that students complete the associated activity, Chernobyl Empathy, before conducting this lesson; doing this assists students in gaining an understanding of how devastating nuclear meltdowns can be, which underscores the importance of careful engineering.
Engineers often must analyze complicated problems. Developing a full understanding of the intricacies of complex systems and structures helps engineers uncover the root causes of problems, which is necessary in order to develop optimal solutions with fewer unintended consequences. It is important for engineers—as well as students pursuing engineering career paths—to be able to research complicated systems and then synthesize that information to gain a thorough understanding in order to resolve problems within the systems.
After this lesson, students should be able to identify and discuss many aspects of nuclear energy generation, such as:
- Steam turbine process
- Nuclear fission
- Fuel type(s) and safe use/disposal
- Nuclear power plant structure and facilities
- Safety procedures and issues
- Benefits/drawbacks of nuclear-generated electricity compared to the benefits/drawbacks of other forms of electricity generation