Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons This source of energy can be produced in two ways When the electricity is made from atoms splitting apart, it's called nuclear energy All power plants convert heat into electricity using steam At nuclear power plants, the heat to make the steam is created when atoms split apart — called fission
When atoms split apart, they release heat. Nuclear energy, energy that is released in significant amounts in processes that affect atomic nuclei, the dense cores of atoms One method of releasing nuclear energy is by controlled nuclear fission, used in nuclear power plants around the world. Nuclear power helps the nation reduce energy sector emissions, strengthen energy security, and provides economic opportunities for communities across the country. All nuclear power plants use nuclear fission, and most nuclear power plants use uranium atoms During nuclear fission, a neutron collides with a uranium atom and splits it, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation.
