Facts At Your Fingertips: Energy and forces – Atom power
An enormous amount of energy is locked up inside the nucleus of an atom. This can be released by splitting the nucleus apart in a process known as fission.
This energy can also be unleashed by fusion, which involves squeezing nuclei together.
Nuclear fission
To release the power of the atom in a nuclear reaction, a neutron is fired at the nucleus of an unstable atom, such as uranium.
This splits the nucleus, releasing energy and shooting out more neutrons. They then split other nuclei, releasing even more energy and triggering a chain reaction.
Using fission power
Fission reactions take place in a nuclear power plant. Although only a small amount of fuel, usually uranium or plutonium, is used, huge amounts of energy are released.
This superheats water, which is turned into high-pressure steam and drives the blades of a turbine. The spinning turbine drives a generator, which makes electricity.
Atomic explosion
Atomic bombs, or A-bombs, use nuclear fission to release massive amounts of energy with devastating effects.
Hydrogen bombs, or H-bombs, use both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion to generate explosions that can be thousands of times more powerful than an atomic bomb explosion.
STAR POWER
Nuclear fusion releases energy by forcing nuclei together to form new elements. Fusion reactions are the source of the Sun’s energy. Every second, deep inside its core, 699 million tons (635 million metric tons) of hydrogen turn into helium.