Research Paper on Uranium
Dangerous yet Effective
Richard Fuhrmann
English 1A Dixon
09May2012
I.
Introduction
II. Characteristics A. Density B. Radioactive C. Fracturing III. Why we used it IV. Health Risks A. Effect B. Chances V. Environmental Effects A. Air B. Water C. Land VI. Uses A. Bi product B. Weights C. Radiation Shielding D. Ammunition E. Armor 1. DU 2. What it stops 3. What penetrates VII. DU vs. Tungsten VIII. Conclusion
What metal is said to cause health and environmental problems but it is extremely effective? It is called depleted uranium. Many people ask why we still use it and haven’t tried to replace it. The military actually has done research on alternative alloys, but have not found anything comparable. It may have health risks and cause environmental problems. These are counter acted though by its multiple uses that it fills. These uses are found in airplanes, ammunition, and armor.
Depleted uranium, also known as DU, is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process. Natural uranium is composed of three isotopes: uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234. The proportions of each in natural uranium are: uranium-238 99.28 percent, uranium-235 0.71 percent, and uranium-234 0.0058 percent by mass. The difference in each isotope comes from the number of neutrons. All the isotopes have number of protons which is 92. Uranium-238, 235, and 234 have 146, 143, and 142 neutrons respectively. All isotopes of uranium are radioactive. DU is considerably less radioactive then both natural uranium and enriched uranium. During the uranium enrichment process most of the U-235 and U-234 are condensed into a specific part of the ore. Once this part is removed the part remaining becomes depleted uranium. DU has a concentration of 99.8 percent U-238, 0.2 percent U-235, and only 0.001 percent U-234.
We use depleted uranium for many reasons. DU is very cost effective and is
Richard Fuhrmann
English 1A Dixon
09May2012
I.
Introduction
II. Characteristics A. Density B. Radioactive C. Fracturing III. Why we used it IV. Health Risks A. Effect B. Chances V. Environmental Effects A. Air B. Water C. Land VI. Uses A. Bi product B. Weights C. Radiation Shielding D. Ammunition E. Armor 1. DU 2. What it stops 3. What penetrates VII. DU vs. Tungsten VIII. Conclusion
What metal is said to cause health and environmental problems but it is extremely effective? It is called depleted uranium. Many people ask why we still use it and haven’t tried to replace it. The military actually has done research on alternative alloys, but have not found anything comparable. It may have health risks and cause environmental problems. These are counter acted though by its multiple uses that it fills. These uses are found in airplanes, ammunition, and armor.
Depleted uranium, also known as DU, is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process. Natural uranium is composed of three isotopes: uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234. The proportions of each in natural uranium are: uranium-238 99.28 percent, uranium-235 0.71 percent, and uranium-234 0.0058 percent by mass. The difference in each isotope comes from the number of neutrons. All the isotopes have number of protons which is 92. Uranium-238, 235, and 234 have 146, 143, and 142 neutrons respectively. All isotopes of uranium are radioactive. DU is considerably less radioactive then both natural uranium and enriched uranium. During the uranium enrichment process most of the U-235 and U-234 are condensed into a specific part of the ore. Once this part is removed the part remaining becomes depleted uranium. DU has a concentration of 99.8 percent U-238, 0.2 percent U-235, and only 0.001 percent U-234.
We use depleted uranium for many reasons. DU is very cost effective and is
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