Nuclear energy works by using nuclear reactions to generate heat from uranium-235, with this heat then used to power steam turbines and produce electricity. Specifically, a neutron is absorbed by a uranium-235 nucleus, causing it to split into lighter elements and release more neutrons and a small amount of energy, with this energy capture process repeating to produce a sustained nuclear reaction. This document provides a brief introduction to how nuclear energy works at the most basic level by using nuclear fission to generate heat from uranium.

1. Introduction to Nuclear
Energy Source
Prof. Swapnil Y. Gadgune, Department of Electrical Engineering, PVPIT, Budhgaon, Sangli
Photo Credit:
thestatesman.com

2. Nuclear Energy
• It uses nuclear reaction that releases nuclear
energy to generate heat, which is then used in
steam turbines to produce electricity in a
nuclear power plant.
• A neutron is absorbed by a uranium-235
nucleus, turning it into an excited uranium-236
nucleus, with the excitation energy provided by
the kinetic energy of the neutron. The uranium-
236, in turn, splits into fast-moving lighter
elements (fission products) and releases a small
amount of free neutrons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission

3. Use of Nuclear Energy
https://factsmaps.com/30-most-reliant-countries-
on-nuclear-energy/
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/05/201
90528-iea.html