Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 34 - Think and Discuss - Page 655: 80

Answer

See below.

Work Step by Step

Thermal pollution: both types of plants heat water to generate steam to spin turbines, so they both produce waste heat. It's mostly a draw. Chemical pollution: conventional fossil-fuel power plants emit greenhouse gases and poisonous contaminants, leading to global warming and acid rain. Nuclear power plants, under normal operation, do not pollute the air. Radioactive pollution: a coal-fired power plant emits more radioactivity than a fission power plant because of the minute quantities of radioactive material in coal. Nuclear plants produce concentrated radioactive waste that must be disposed of safely.
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