Uranium Fission

The process of splitting the uranium atom to form smaller atoms is known as 'fission'. Nuclear fission releases a lot of energy, which can be used to heat water to produce steam. This can then be used to generate electricity. How? The U-235 atom is made up of 92 protons and 143 neutrons (that is how this particular isotope is named, because 92+143 = 235!). When U-235 atoms are bombarded with neutrons their nuclei (centres) split into two roughly equal parts, at the same time releasing two or three more neutrons. These neutrons then split the nuclei of other U-235 atoms, releasing more energy and more neutrons, and the process continues. The end result is an enormous amount of energy (in the form of heat) from a small amount of uranium.

This 'chain reaction' is controlled inside a nuclear reactor. Steam made from the water heated by the fission is used to spin a turbine and drive a generator, to produce electricity!

Greater technical detail can be found on this topic by searching through the listed briefing papers and education resources at www.uic.com.au.