Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is released when atomic nuclei split or combine (fuse). The kind of nuclear energy used by people today comes from the power released by the fission of uranium atoms.

Nuclear fission is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two or more parts. When that occurs, a large amount of energy is released in the form of high-energy neutrons. The release can occur very quickly, as in an atomic bomb, or in a more controlled manner, within a nuclear reactor, that allows the energy to be transformed for conventional uses.

Nuclear power plants initiate and control fission, then use the thermal energy to make steam, which drives turbines. Many countries use this application of nuclear power to generate a significant share of their electricity, and it is now generally considered a conventional energy source.