Nuclear energy is not a recent concept. It has been around for several centuries and has been the reason for several debates and discussions.
Enrico Fermi is believed to be the first scientist who led the study of nuclear energy.
Additionally, Oppenheimer is famously known for his works contributing to the first atomic bomb that the world witnessed.
Since there are several kinds of energy and most of them are interrelated, people often get confused while attributing a type or category to an energy source.
One such energy is nuclear energy. There are often doubts regarding whether it is a kind of potential energy or kinetic energy.
In this article, we would first briefly discuss nuclear energy, then about potential and kinetic energy.
Later on, we would discuss whether nuclear energy is potential or kinetic.
What is Nuclear Energy?
We all have heard about nuclear energy. It is nothing but the energy that is found in the core of an atom. Atoms are the building blocks that further constitute matter.
You must have studied about atoms in your school, in the Science class. One of the many components of an atom is the nucleus, the core or energy segment of an atom.
There is unimaginably immense power in the nucleus of an atom. When released, the nuclear energy from the atom can be utilized for many purposes.
It can even create electricity or help in transferring energy for other scientific research and military purposes.
In a nuclear reactor or plant, several machines are placed to cause fission, in which mostly uranium is used, and its atoms are forced to split.
This fission exhibits enormous amounts of energy and generates a lot of heat as well. In essence, the energy generated from nuclear sources can generate enough electricity for large establishments or areas
Nevertheless, the creation and setting up of nuclear plants take up a lot of capital and permissions, but being a renewable and good energy source, it is safe for the environment.
Potential Energy
Potential energy was first introduced to the world in the 19th century, by William Rankine. The energy here is relative to that of other things.
The theory stems down to the idea that any object can possess energy because of its position. It means that an object can have some amount of energy in a particular state.
We can take the example of a rubber band. When the band is extended, it stores a lot of energy at the moment and when released, releases the energy as well.
The formula of potential energy contains the multiplication of mass, acceleration, and height and is denoted in joule.
There are two major types of potential energy – gravitational and elastic potential energy. As the name suggests, the former refers to the energy that is generated due to gravitational energy.
The latter, however, results from the elastic pull of a material. It is found and observed in objects that can be stretched or compressed.
We can easily witness the effects and application of potential energy in our everyday lives. Be it rubber bands, bungee jumping, water skiing, etc.
Let us now learn about kinetic energy.
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy can be defined as energy measured according to the object when it is in motion. Being energy, it is also measured in joule.
Kinetic energy can be easily transferred among the various objects and also the other types of energy.
Yo-yo exhibits the principles of kinetic energy well. Primarily, one can observe potential energy, wherein the yo-yo is at rest and not in motion.
The moment it is pulled down and thrown away, it releases enormous kinetic energy due to the elasticity and strength released through energy.
Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity mostly because of the mass being involved, which in itself is a scalar quantity as well.
There are several kinds of kinetic energy present. These include Radiant, thermal, sound, electrical, mechanical, etc.
Radiant energy is associated with the various lights and rays traveling in the space and atmosphere.
Thermal energy as the name suggests is produced with the help of heat because of quick motion and collision.
Sound energy is produced with the help of sound, measured in decibels.
Electrical energy is developed with the help of interplay between several different charges of opposite kinds, and mechanical energy is always there around us but keeps getting transferred.
Let us now discuss the nature of nuclear energy, whether it is potential or kinetic energy.
Is Nuclear Energy Potential or Kinetic?
So far, we learned about what nuclear energy is, how it is produced, and what various uses it can be put into.
We also learned about potential energy and kinetic energy. Now, let us address the question – of whether nuclear energy is potential or kinetic.
Logically, the answer is quite simple. Since nuclear energy emanates from the separation of atoms – fission, there must be a state when the atom is in its original position.
It is in this position that nuclear energy is in potential form.
However, the moment fission of the atom occurs, a large amount of heat and radiation occurs. This leads to kinetic energy being transferred in the surroundings, thus making nuclear energy kinetic energy at this stage.
Thus, to answer the question, nuclear energy in its stages of formation depicts the features of both potential as well as kinetic energy.
Conclusion
Thus, in this article, you learned about nuclear energy and its characteristics. Hopefully, you also got the answer to the question about nuclear energy being potential or kinetic.
It is indeed both, but at different stages. Nuclear energy, since emits a large amount of energy, is also attributable to radiation during the process.
However, it must be noted that nuclear energy is still in the developmental phase and we have perhaps not seen the end of it.
With more research and studies, we might also be introduced to new forms of energy within nuclear energy, the ones that can meet the rising energy demand globally.
