 Nuclear Energy Information Service Illinois' Nuclear Power Watchdog for 25 Years |
How Nuclear Power Works |
| Nuclear Energy Information Service Illinois' Nuclear Power Watchdog for 25 Years |
How Nuclear Power Works |
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Atoms are constructed like miniature solar systems. At the center of the atom is the nucleus, and orbiting around it are electrons. The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, very densely packed together. Hydrogen, the lightest element, has one proton; uranium, the heaviest natural element, has 92 protons.
The nucleus of an atom is held together with great force, the "strongest force in nature." When it is bombarded with a neutron, it can be split apart, a process called fission. Because uranium atoms are so large, the atomic force that binds it together is relatively weak, making uranium good for fission.
In nuclear power plants, neutrons collide with uranium atoms, splitting them. This split releases neutrons from the uranium that in turn collide with other atoms, causing a chain reaction. This chain reaction is controlled with "control rods" that absorb neutrons. Fission releases energy that heats water to about 520 degrees in the core of the plant. This hot water is then used to spin turbines that are connected to generators which produce electricity.
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists
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Last Revised
12/07/06