Question

Although nuclear energy is not based on fossil fuels, why is it considered a nonrenewable energy source?

O It takes hundreds to thousands of years to break down its by-products.

O It can only be used for brief periods of time without causing environmental damage.

O It is not a process that occurs naturally on the planet.

O It is dependent on a limited, mined mineral.

Answer 1

Nuclear energy is considered nonrenewable due to its reliance on limited, mined minerals like uranium, which are finite and take geological time scales to form.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nuclear energy:

Nuclear energy is considered a nonrenewable energy source because it is dependent on limited, mined minerals such as uranium, which exist in finite amounts on Earth. Fossil fuels and nuclear power are the main types of nonrenewable resources. The natural processes by which these non-renewable sources are formed typically take place over geological time scales, much longer than human lifetimes.

While nuclear power does not produce carbon emissions like fossil fuels do, it generates radioactive waste that poses significant disposal and environmental challenges. Moreover, the extraction and utilization of uranium for nuclear energy are limited by the availability of uranium ore, which is not an inexhaustible resource. Consequently, even though nuclear energy provides a powerful alternative to fossil fuels, its reliance on a nonrenewable mineral reserves classifies it as a nonrenewable resource.