Past exam of the short options paper shared by Prelims and Parts A and B of the physics course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / S4 / 3 / g / Solution

Fission power combines dense fuel and low direct carbon emissions with high capital commitments, long build schedules, financing risk and expensive decommissioning. Environmental assessment must include mining, enrichment and fabrication, cooling-water demands, normal releases, severe-accident risk and comparison with avoided fossil pollution. None of these is captured by operational carbon emissions alone.

Waste requires containment and isolation appropriate to activity, heat production and decay times. Short-lived operational waste and spent fuel have different handling needs, while geological disposal depends on engineered and natural barriers plus credible institutions. Recycling changes inventories and resource use but does not remove all waste or proliferation concerns. Public consent, transparent regulation, security and intergenerational responsibility are part of the challenge. Quantitative comparisons should specify reactor type, financing and waste policy rather than treating either zero risk or inevitable catastrophe as a physical law.