The document explains the process of electricity production from nuclear materials, highlighting the role of uranium isotopes (u233, u235, u238) and fission reactions. It describes how thermal energy is generated from the fission of uranium atoms, which is then converted to electricity via steam turbines. The text also mentions controlled chain reactions and the use of moderators and coolants in nuclear reactors.

1. Nuclear materials
Book – The Hindu speaks on scientific
facts
Volume - 2

2. How is electricity produced
from nuclear materials

3. • Uranium has 3 major isotopes.
• U233, U235,U238
• It out of which the last 2 are naturally
occurring.
• U233 and U235 are fissionable materials i.e..
They can be split by bombarding with
neutrons.
• U233 can be produced from thorium, which is
a non-fissile material and is know as fast
breeding.

4. • Plutonium 239 can be produced from U238,
but plutonium is not a naturally occuring
element and fissile.
• Fission is a nuclear reaction which splits the
uranium atom into two or more small atoms
on bombardment with a neutron.
• The combined mass of the spilt atoms is
slightly less than that of the uranium atom
and the loss of this small mass is known as
mass defect.

5. According to Einstein’s famous theory of
relativity formula.
E = mc2
• E = Energy
• M = Mass
• C = velocity of light , this mass to energy
conversion takes places

6. • The released thermal energy is absorbed by
the coolant of the reactor and in a heat
exchanger the coolant gives its heat to water
and steam is produced.
• The steam drives a turbine, which is coupled
to a generator. This is how electricity is
produced.
• On bombardment by a neutron, an uranium
atom release 3 neutron out of which 2 are
absorbed by a moderator in the reactor and
only one is allowed to continue the reaction.

7. • The moderator can be a control rod and the
coolant itself sometimes serves as the
moderator.
• This type of arrangement is know as
controlled chain reaction.
• Many types of reactor are in use today.

8. Thank you