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Nuclear energy
Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its component parts. The component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy of nuclei is always a positive number, since all nuclei require net energy to separate them into individual protons and neutrons.
Industry: Energy
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Nuclear energy
plausible accidents
Energy; Nuclear energy
Postulated events that meet a probability test rather than the more challenging test represented by a design-basis event.
plant efficiency
Energy; Nuclear energy
The percentage of the total energy content of a power plant's fuel that is converted into electricity. The remaining energy is lost to the environment as heat.
planned special exposure
Energy; Nuclear energy
An infrequent exposure to radiation, separate from and in addition to the annual dose limits (see 10 CFR 20. 1003 and 20. 1206).
pile
Energy; Nuclear energy
A colloquial term describing the first nuclear reactors. They are called piles because the earliest reactors were "piles" of graphite and uranium blocks.
pig
Energy; Nuclear energy
A colloquial term describing a container (usually lead or depleted uranium) used to ship or store radioactive materials. The thick walls of this shielding device protect the person handling the ...
