The atomic nucleus
An atom is the smallest amount possible of any of the 118 known elements. They are made up three subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The protons and neutrons make up the center of the atom called the nucleus. The much smaller electrons are found flying around the nucleus in a multilayered cloud.
Protons are positively charged and neutrons are neutral in charge. That means they don’t attract or repel each other. Most of the elements, however, have more than one proton and that presents a bit of a problem. Positive charges REPEL other positive charges.
An atom like Uranium with 92 protons SHOULD fly apart into 92 different directions! Why doesn’t it do this? There must be a force GREATER than that of the repelling protons to hold things together. This force is supplied by NUCLEAR ENERGY.
It’s similar to putting a tiger in a cage. Tremendous power that is temporarily contained.
What if that power could be released?…safely…underwater…to turn water into steam…to run an electrical generator?
Fission
Captured from the Nova episode below, this graphic describes how the nucleus of a large atom like Uranium-235 can be split. The energy that once held 92 protons together (against their natural tendencies to repel) is released outwardly. Neutrons are fired away like shrapnel from a grenade and cause other nuclei to become unstable. This is called a chain reaction.
Fusion
Nuclear fusion occurs when atomic nuclei are combined together to make a new element. When this occurs some matter is converted into a tremendous amount of pure energy.
These fusion reactions require millions of degrees Celsius. Converting Hydrogen isotopes into Helium is the main energy output of a star. That energy travels through space towards us but only a tiny fraction of the Sun’s energy reaches Earth to be used.
What if we could do this reaction safely on Earth? What if we could make a reactor that could power all of New York city for two weeks on a glass of WATER?! Scientists all over the world are working to do this.
Right now, fusion is possible to do but it requires MORE energy to run than we get usable electricity out of it. It’s like spending $100 to get $67 dollars! In the future we will likely have a reactor that multiplies our energy 30-50 TIMES what we need to put into it. The energy in the nucleus is massive…literally. Mass turning into energy as Einstein said.
At the time of this writing (March 2025), the record for a sustained fusion reaction is just over 22 minutes and is held by France. Check out this article from Advanced Science News
Nuclear Power
This is a diagram of a nuclear fission power plant. Notice that the nuclear fission reaction is taking place in a system that is closed off from the rest of the reactor. Radioactive water stays contained but the heat from the reaction heats up the second tank of water.
This is the water that turns the turbine that in turn rotates the generator.
