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First Reactor Malfunction
A partial core meltdown occurs in reactor No. 1. The extent of the accident was not made public until 1985. The reactor was repaired and put back into operation within months. -
Construction
Chernobyl was built throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The last reactor was finished in 1983 -
Nuclear Disaster
On April 26, 1986 in Ukraine the Chernobyl radioactive plant exploded. It was one of the largest radioactive explosions in history. This was caused from a flawed Soviet reactor Along with many bad decisions by inadequately trained personnel. -
Evacuation
115,000 people evacuated within 36 hours of the event. -
Spread of Radiation
The wind changed directions and started spreading radiation even farther than it was originaly spread. -
Discovery of the Elephants Foot
It was on this date that the infamous "elephants foot" was discovered. This is a smoldering hot chunk of melted reactor cores and other radioactive materials that melted through the concrete and is one of the most deadly pieces of waste on the planet. -
Cleanup
$2.2 billion was spent to cleanup Chernobyl. It was a while before the cleanup crews could safely go to the site. Even with this being said, several thousand cleanup people died and became disabled from the radiation. -
Cost
The reactor malfunction has now cost the Soviet Union $267 billion in total including cleanup and energy loss. -
Reconstruction Stops
Reconstruction work on block 5 and 6 stopped, and decided not to complete the reactors. -
Fire
A fire breaks out in the turbine hall of Reactor 2. The fire began in Turbine 4 while it was idle for repairs. A faulty switch caused a surge of current to the turbine, igniting insulating material on some electrical wiring.This subsequently led to a leak of hydrogen, used as a turbine coolant, into the turbine hall which created the conditions for fire to start in the roof and for one of the trusses supporting the roof to collapse. -
All Tours are Banned
All tours of Chernobyl and its sorroundings are offically banned. -
Present Day
Today Chernobyl is still radioactive. There are spots now that are safe to be in and there are spots that will kill you almost instantly from radiation. The wildlife in the area is not typically physically mutated but may have differences in DNA. Most animals have a shortened life span from the radiation. Some people live there but it is not safe to there for most people. -
How Is This Related To Physical Science?
In Chernobyl they used a process called fission which is where they split a nucleus. When the nucleus is split energy is released. Cox, E. (n.d.). What Is Nuclear Fission? - Definition & Process. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-nuclear-fission-definition-process-quiz.html Chernobyl. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-resources/misc/chernobyl.html -
Bibliography
Chernobyl's Deadly Elephant's Foot. (2017, April 28). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/elephants-foot/
Taylor, A. (2016, April 04). Still Cleaning Up: 30 Years After the Chernobyl Disaster. Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/04/still-cleaning-up-30-years-after-the-chernobyl-disaster/476748/
Timeline of events. (2017, October 02). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://chernobylgallery.com/chernobyl-disaster/timeline/ -
Bibliography
Timeline of Chernobyl nuclear disaster. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Timeline_of_Chernobyl_nuclear_disaster_999.html
Javascript Required! (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx
Fact Sheets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://www.nei.org/Master-Document-Folder/Backgrounders/Fact-Sheets/Chernobyl-Accident-And-Its-Consequences
