Nuclear Power

Nuclear energy comes from the energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom.

Atoms are the tiny units that make up all matter in the universe.

Energy holds the nucleus together and it contains, or holds a huge amount of power.

Nuclear energy can be used to create electricity but it first has to be released from the atom.

Nuclear Power

There are two kinds of reactions that create nuclear energy.

Nuclear fusion is when the atoms are joined together.

Nuclear fission is when the atoms are split apart.

However, power plants cannot get energy from nuclear fusion in a safe way.

Most power plants use nuclear fission.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear reactors use pellets of uranium for fuel to produce nuclear fission reactions.

The nuclear reactor forces the atoms of uranium to break apart.

When they break apart, they create something called fission products.

This makes other uranium atoms split apart causing a chain reaction.

Nuclear Power

The energy from the chain reaction creates a lot of heat.

That heat is used to warm up water.

The water turns into the steam.

The steam turns a turbine.

The turbine turns a generator which creates electricity.

​Nuclear Power

Nuclear power can make clean, pollution free power.

It does not produce greenhouse gases.

However, nuclear reactors create nuclear waste from the used uranium pellets.

The waste can be very harmful and radioactive for thousands of years.