Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 16: Problem 9

Describe what went wrong at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Three Mile Island accident was caused by a combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems, and operator errors. The Chernobyl disaster was due to a flawed reactor design operated with inadequately trained personnel and caused an explosion and fires that released large amounts of radioactive particles. The Fukushima disaster was due to a massive earthquake and tsunami, which disabled the power supply and cooling of the reactors, leading to their overheating, nuclear meltdowns, and release of radioactive contamination.

Step by step solution

01

Describe Three Mile Island accident

The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 was a partial meltdown of reactor number 2 of Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (TMI-2) in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. A combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems, and operator errors led to a loss of coolant and a partial meltdown of the reactor's core. Despite the severity of the accident, the reactor vessel remained intact, and the surrounding population was exposed to only minimal radiation.
02

Describe Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Pripyat in Ukraine was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. The explosion and fires released large amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Western USSR and Europe. The cause of the disaster was a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The immediate and long-term death toll, though disputed, is high and the environmental damages persist.
03

Describe Fukushima accident

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a consequent tsunami, which disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors. This caused the reactors to overheat, leading to nuclear meltdowns, hydrogen-air explosions, and the release of radioactive contamination. The disaster is the most significant nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

What problems are associated with the long-term containment of nuclear waste? What is the current status of the disposal situation?

What are radioactive emissions, and how are most humans exposed to them?

What are the four generations of nuclear reactors? Describe the advantages of Generations III and IV.

How do nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants generate electrical power?

Discuss changes in nuclear power that might brighten its future.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Environmental Research

Read Explanation

Environmental Policy

Read Explanation

Living Environment

Read Explanation

Physical Environment

Read Explanation

Ecological Conservation

Read Explanation

Biological Resources

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free