"to produce heat to power turbines"
Material that undergoes nuclear reactions and provides energy in a nuclear reactor.
Radiation Physics: The study of the behavior of radiation, including its sources, interactions, and effects.
Atomic Structure: The study of the structure of atoms, including electrons, protons, and neutrons.
Nuclear Reactions: The study of the processes that occur in the nucleus of atoms, including fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.
Nuclear Energy: The production of energy through nuclear reactions, including the operation of nuclear reactors.
Nuclear Fuel: The materials used in nuclear reactors to generate energy, including uranium, plutonium, and thorium.
Nuclear Fuel Cycles: The processes involved in the production, use, and disposal of nuclear fuel.
Nuclear Reactor Design: The design of nuclear reactors, including their components and safety features.
Nuclear Reactor Operation: The operation of nuclear reactors, including startup, shutdown, and normal operation.
Nuclear Safety: The measures taken to ensure the safe operation of nuclear reactors, including emergency preparedness and response.
Nuclear Waste Management: The management of radioactive waste generated by nuclear reactors, including storage, transport, and disposal.
Nuclear Nonproliferation: The efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Nuclear Policy: The development and implementation of policies related to nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.
Uranium-235 (U-235): This is the fuel that is most commonly used in nuclear reactors. It is a naturally occurring isotope of uranium and is fissionable, meaning that it can be split into two smaller atoms, releasing energy.
Plutonium-239 (Pu-239): This is an artificial isotope of plutonium that is created when U-238 is exposed to neutrons. It is also fissionable and is used in some nuclear reactors as a fuel.
Mixed-Oxide Fuel (MOX): MOX fuel is made by combining plutonium-239 and uranium-238 oxides. It is used in some nuclear reactors and is considered a way to better manage nuclear waste since it can recycle plutonium.
Thorium (Th-232): Thorium is a naturally occurring element that is not fissionable on its own, but can be used in nuclear reactors if it is first converted to uranium-233.
Depleted Uranium (DU): DU is the byproduct of the enrichment process used to make nuclear fuel. It is not fissionable on its own but can be used in some reactor designs.
Nuclear/Atomic Waste: Radioactive waste is material that is no longer useful or radioactive material that has been contaminated in the production of nuclear reactors, fuel, or bombs.
"Heat is created when nuclear fuel undergoes nuclear fission."
"uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239"
"When the unstable nuclei of these atoms are hit by a slow-moving neutron, they frequently split, creating two daughter nuclei and two or three more neutrons."
"The neutrons released go on to split more nuclei."
"This creates a self-sustaining chain reaction that is controlled in a nuclear reactor, or uncontrolled in a nuclear weapon."
"If the nucleus absorbs the neutron without splitting, it creates a heavier nucleus with one additional neutron."
"The processes involved in mining, refining, purifying, using, and disposing of nuclear fuel are collectively known as the nuclear fuel cycle."
"Not all types of nuclear fuels create power from nuclear fission."
"plutonium-238 and some other isotopes are used to produce small amounts of nuclear power by radioactive decay in radioisotope thermoelectric generators and other types of atomic batteries."
"Nuclear fuel has the highest energy density of all practical fuel sources."
"Most nuclear fuels contain heavy fissile actinide elements that are capable of undergoing and sustaining nuclear fission."
"Nuclear fuel is material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to power turbines."
"Nuclear fuel has the highest energy density of all practical fuel sources."
"The three most relevant fissile isotopes are uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239. [...] uncontrolled in a nuclear weapon."
"creating two daughter nuclei and two or three more neutrons."
"The neutrons released go on to split more nuclei."
"The processes involved in mining, refining, purifying, using, and disposing of nuclear fuel are collectively known as the nuclear fuel cycle."
"plutonium-238 and some other isotopes are used to produce small amounts of nuclear power by radioactive decay in radioisotope thermoelectric generators and other types of atomic batteries."
"uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239"